Jeff Koons has grow to be the newest artist to acquire part in the historical BMW Art Automobile challenge. He joins a stellar list to include the likes of Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and John Baldessari (to identify a couple of) who have, considering the fact that the project’s inception in 1975, utilised BMW cars and trucks as their canvas, most of which have then raced on the circuit. Koons is applying the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé as his base, while his 8X Jeff Koons challenge will be made in limited numbers and marketed as collector’s version adhering to the world premiere at the art good Frieze Los Angeles in February 2022.
This will be the 2nd time Koons has worked on a BMW Art Vehicle undertaking. His 2010 M3 GT2 Art Motor vehicle was a riot of colours and went on to perform at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. I recall assembly the artist at the Pompidou Heart in Paris as the car was unveiled. Then, Koons needed to convey the power of the race car. “When the motor vehicle is not racing, when you walk about this artwork car, it has to make references to the electrical power beneath the hood,” he advised me. This time all-around his aim has considerably advanced to be in preserving with today’s fears — namely the artwork and craft of creation. “I was contemplating very intensely about it,” he points out. “What is the essence of the 8 Series Gran Coupe? What is the essence of ability? How to build a little something that exemplifies all the vitality of the BMW 8 Series that is also capable to touch on the human factor?”
The final result is 8X Jeff Koons. The energetic style is a nod to pop artwork, for which the artist is acknowledged for, while the geometric patterns reference the sporty 8 Series Gran Coupé’s contours. The principle is centered on refinement and craft, with a multi-layer paint getting 285 several hours to implement onto each vehicle. The design and style brings together eleven different exterior shades ranging from blue to silver as perfectly as from yellow to black. The multi-colored interior is comprised of higher-end components, great leather-based and a cupholder lid and the artist’s engraved signature. The seats are created up of the basic crimson and blue colors of the marque’s significant-efficiency BMW M division.
“Working with Jeff Koons again to jointly create some thing actually unique is a great enjoyment,” suggests Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group style and design. “He is a person of the biggest artists of our time and 1 of the most inspiring and partaking human beings to perform with.”
The BMW Artwork Car task started existence in 1975 when racing driver Hervé Poulain casually questioned his artist friend Alexander Calder to paint a 3. CSL which he subsequently raced at Le Mans that yr and so the series was born. Considering that then, the paintbrush of some of the most noteworthy names in artwork heritage have stroked BMW race automobiles, with all but 1 (Olafur Eliasson’s H2R hydrogen automobile) competing on the international racing scene.
8X Jeff Koons also celebrates 50 a long time of BMW’s cultural engagement. Via BMW Art & Society, the carmaker performs with and supports artists, designers and cultural institutions all over the entire world to include London Symphony Orchestra, Artwork Basel, Frieze Art and Art D’Égypte. This may feel an odd way to promote automobiles, but what BMW gains from this trade is associating with arts and tips — components of which will naturally feed into the pondering inside of the organization. “We just really like the arts and the daring voices of our time,” explains van Hooydonk. “Our passion is emotion and to be in a position to perform intently with Jeff Koons once again has been an remarkable source of inspiration. What improved artist to collaborate with on the 8 Collection Gran Coupe? Car Layout takes inspiration from artwork and engineering and turns that into extremely emotional experiences.”
The 8X Jeff Koons automobiles are now currently being manufactured in a mystery place at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Bavaria with only two autos created every single 7 days.
See why the BMW Team invests in arts and tips listed here