You may be forgiven for not knowing a great deal about BMW Art Drive. It’s the first time ever the collection will be visiting our shores here in the UK thanks to the fine folks over at ICA (the Institute of Contemporary Arts). However, you will NOT be forgiven if you miss this chance to admire the exhibition.
BMW Art Drive is an exhibition, showing off some of the greatest BMW vehicles between 1975 – 2010, covered in the magnificent art work of the worlds leading contemporary artists.
The Art Car Collection actually started when French racing driver Hervé Poulain asked his close friend Alexander Calder to create a masterpiece on his Le Mans 24hr race car which competed in the 1975 Le Mans race. Since then, artists from all across the globe have joined in the collection and today we have the mesmerising BMW Art Car Collection.
The collection of classic and future classic cars has built up over the last 35 years and includes original art pieces from some of the most renowned artists globally being worked on to some of the most beautiful cars ever designed. Artists such as David Hockney, Jeff Koons, and Andy Warhol have all created masterpieces over the cars. Judging by the image below it seems Mr. Warhol has spewed his creativity all over the gorgeous lines of a BMW 8 Series. Correction, it’s a M1. The rest of the cars? You’ll have to join us at Art Drive July 21 – August 4th to capture all the beauty. And best of all? IT’S FREE!!! BMW, ICA, we here at CutTheCap.com LOVE YOU!
If the single image is just not enough to entice your BMW Art hunger, check out some cool documentary footage belowand take the virtual Art Drive Tour here (click)
Full details of where and when are in the press release below
ART DRIVE! THE BMW ART CAR COLLECTION 1975-2010
EXHIBITION OF ART CARS BY ANDY WARHOL, JEFF KOONS AND DAVID HOCKNEY IN EAST END CAR PARK
BMW ART CAR COLLECTION ON SHOW FOR FIRST TIME IN THE UK
The ICA will take over a landmark car park in Shoreditch for two weeks only from 21 July to 4 August for a unique exhibition of the BMW ART CAR COLLECTION on show for the first time in the UK.
The collection, initiated over 35 years ago, features BMW cars transformed by some of the world’s leading artists including: Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Ernst Fuchs, Robert Rauschenberg, M.J. Nelson, Ken Done, Matazo Kayama, César Manrique, Jeff Koons, A.R. Penck, Esther Mahlangu, Sandro Chia, Jenny Holzer and David Hockney.
21 July – 4 August 2012, NCP Great Eastern Street Car Park, 35 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3ER.
Free Admission.
The ICA presents Art Drive! in partnership with BMW, the Mayor of London and the London 2012 Festival.
ART DRIVE! THE BMW ART CAR COLLECTION will show cars by 16 international artists over six floors in the NCP Car Park on Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch. The project, which brings together BMW’s excellence in car design and the ICA’s passion for and commitment to art, will be a one-off opportunity for art and design lovers as well as car enthusiasts.
The BMW ART CAR COLLECTION started when French racing driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain invited his friend Alexander Calder to design a car that married artistic excellence to ‘an already perfect object’. The end result was a racing car that would ultimately compete in the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1975. And so the BMW Art Car was born…
Since then some of the greatest names in contemporary art have added to the collection creating a wide range of artistic interpretations. David Hockney’s 1995 Art Car paints the inside of the car on the outside, revealing everything from internal engine parts to a dog in the back. Rauschenberg incorporates photographic transfers of Ingres paintings while Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein used the canvas of the car to portray the essence of speed.
Well-known for its support for innovation and new talent across the contemporary arts, the ICA has sought out some exciting emerging names in design from the East End to help deliver this project, including Julia, Loop.pH and My Beautiful City.
The ICA is delighted to be working with LOCOG, BMW and the Mayor of London’s office on this prestigious project. Art Drive! presents an exciting opportunity to reach new and larger audiences. The ICA hopes to take on further projects of this type in order to extend its reach into new spaces across the city.
ART DRIVE! – THE BMW ART CAR COLLECTION
Dates: 21 July – 4 August 2012
Location: NCP Great Eastern Street Car Park, 35 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3ER
Admission: Free