Munich/Sweden. For the second year in a row, electric
BMW cars dressed in the work of a Nordic artist can be seen around
Stockholm. During this year’s Market Art Fair, 17-19 May, the BMW cars
designed by Swedish artist Karin Westman will be used to drive guests
to and from the fair. The idea for the initiative comes from the
global BMW Art Car project, where famous artists have been applying
their artworks on cars since 1975. For the second time, a Nordic
artist has been selected and given the freedom to express their art on
the BMW cars that will be used as shuttle cars during the days of the exhibition.
“Combining art and mobility has always been a passion for BMW.
The collaboration with Market Art Fair gives us a unique opportunity
to support young Nordic artists while emphasising our commitment to
art and culture”, says Johanna Kriisa, CEO of BMW Sweden.
Mobile artwork on the streets of Stockholm
The
artist behind this year’s winning entry “Wetland” is Karin
Westman (GSA Gallery, SE), known for her sensual and abstract artwork
inspired by the Baroque and revolving around a dramatic and rich
colour palette.
The mobile artworks displaying Karin’s distinctive aesthetic will
also be displayed outside Liljevalchs during the fair weekend.
“I believe that art can reach a wider audience through this kind
of meeting. Industrial designers and artists work for different
purposes, but both workcreatively. There are things to learn from each
other, but only time will tell exactly what and where it will
lead”, says Karin Westman.
Last year’s winner was Swedish-ethnic artist Siiri Jüris (Galleri
Duerr, SW), but the idea of having Nordic artists’ work adorn BMW cars
comes from the BMW Art Car project, which has been running since 1975.
“BMW has a long history of global cultural engagement. To be
able to collaborate with such a natural partner and together promote a
young artist and bring the art into the city in the form of mobile
artworks feels fantastic”, says Petra Stenvall-Thompson
Partnership Manager Market Art Fair.
The history of BMW Art Cars
For almost 50 years,
BMW has allowed world-renowned artists to express their art using the
car as a canvas. The idea of collaborating with prominent artists to
transform cars into rolling works of art began when, in 1975, French
racing driver Hevré Poulain came up with the idea of letting an
artist, Alexander Calder, use the racing car as a canvas to paint a
piece of art. No one could have predicted then that they were making
modern art history and that the car would be the start of the BMW Art
Car project.
Many world-famous artists have followed in Calder’s footsteps,
including , Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Jenny
Holzer, Cao Fei, Esther Mahlangu and Jeff Koons to name but a few.
This spring, the car of the twentieth artist, Julie Mehretu, will
compete at the 2024 Le Mans 24-hour race. Known for her abstract
paintings, Mehretu is considered one of the most influential artists
of her generation.
BMW i5 M60 xDrive Sedan: Power consumption combined
in WLTP cycle: 20,6 – 18,2 kWh/100 km, Electric range in WLTP cycle:
455 – 515 km.