ART
Jeff Koons BMW M3GT2 , 2010.
The BMW Art Car
A N AU TOMO B I LE FO R A C A N VA S
T
W R I T T EN BY
KR IS TIN ARONSON /
I M AG ERY CO U R T E S Y O F
B MW AG
here is nothing quite like a vintage racing car to inspire “track dreams.” Its rarity, original condition (mint if possible), competitive acceleration, aerodynamic design, and, of course, its legacy of rally and tournament wins — all give an aura, rich in history, to this a powerful example of engineering. In fact, great racing cars are always a marriage of aesthetics and engineering. The car itself — the contours of the chassis and body work, the doors, the drivetrain merge to form a functioning and powerful work of art on its own. But can the body of a car also function as a canvas that inspires the creativity of an artist, creating a new medium for art? Or is painting original works of art on a car just a matter of gilding the lily? Many contemporary artists seemed eager to explore the latter concept: that the beauty and power of a racing car and the application of art to it gave enhanced meaning to both objects. Creating what Robert Rauschenberg called, “mobile museums.”
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EQ.
SUMMER 2021
equicapmag.com
