AUTOMOBILES
ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM “THE SIX ELEMENTS” Celebrates Art unlike any other automobile
| BY JARONE ASHKENAZI
R
olls-Royce is about the sensory experience rather than numerical attributes, which generally govern automobile characteristics. It is all about the sense of luxury rather than enveloping the car within a blanket of technology. Hence, it is not a surprise that the RollsRoyce Phantom celebrates art with its ‘gallery.’ While other manufacturers talk about what technology their cars have, the Phantom is an alluring canvas for an artist. Rolls-Royce collaborated with artist Sacha Jafri to create a series of six bespoke Phantom cars with exclusive artwork. Six Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Series II motor cars have their specially-commissioned artwork hand-painted by Sacha Jafri.
These works of art are displayed within the glass-enclosed piece in the Phantom, each inspired by one of the five traditional elements: earth, water, fire, wind, and air. The sixth, humanity, references Sacha Jafri’s best-known work, "The Journey of Humanity", which holds the official Guinness World Record for the largest painting ever produced on canvas. The project was started in 2020 and took two years to develop, along with the bespoke division
12 | UPSCALE LIVING MAGAZINE | APRIL 2023
at Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce has always been associated with art. It goes back to its illustrious years or even its tryst with rockstar royalty, John Lennon, and his psychedelic Phantom, which remains a design icon. Along with the artworks, the cars also have individual NFTs, which the owners may opt to sell. The placement of the works of art are somewhat different from any other car, and they give the fascia a unique touch. They are free of traditional materials like glossy wood or metal and provide a bespoke touch missing from most cars. Previously the carmaker had ‘Muse,’ a program infusing art and automobiles with various commissions. It is nothing new to see Rolls-Royce bringing customizations to a new level, as the illustrious car company has rarely said no to any of its client’s demands. The bespoke department of Rolls-Royce caters to the whims and fancies of its clientele, but the art connection stems from the Phantom being an iconic car within its past product range. ‘The Six Elements’ series is a collection of art that separates each automobile from the rest. The artist strives to incorporate the owner’s ideas into the custom artwork instilled into each car.
