Art is not exclusive to gallery walls, it can be applied to lots of different objects and be appreciated in unusual manifestations. This iconic car brand is marking 40 years since it debuted its first automotive artwork.
BMW Art Cars Collection had its first car painted by Alexander Calder. It was a BMW 3.0 CSL lined up for the Le Mans
24-hour race. Since then, both art and design enthusiasts as well as car and technology fans around the world have been fascinated by the concept.
The idea behind BMW Art Cars came from French racing driver and art enthusiast Hervé Poulain. Exactly 40 years ago, the driver asked his good friend Alexander to apply his creative talent to his race car. Together with Jochen Neerparch, the then BMW motorsport director, the very first BMW Art Car Collection vehicle was born. It instantly became a favourite on the race track.
New additions to the collection have been made over the years at irregular intervals including works from artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney and Jeff Koons.
“The BMW Art Cars provide an exciting landmark at the interface where cars, technology, design, art and motor sport meet,” says Maximiliam Schoberl, senior vice president, corporate and governmental affairs, BMW Group. The the collection is also known as ‘rolling sculptures’ and the vehicles are unique just like the creators.
The anniversary celebrations will happen with exhibitions of some of the Art Cars in Hong Kong, at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, at the BMW Museum in Germany and at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Lake Como in Italy. The last destination had the first four BMW Art Cars by Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy warhol, plus the M3 GT2 created by Jeff Koons on display. Further presentations are set to follow later in 2015 in New york, Miami and Shanghai.
