It’s probably safe to say that more Club members are interested in high-performance BMWs than the international art scene, but sometimes there are crossovers. One example is happening this week, as BMW presents the legendary BMW Art Car by Roy Lichtenstein at the second edition of Art Basel's Hong Kong show from May 15 to 18, 2014.
Art from 245 galleries in 39 countries will be on display. BMW has been a partner of the Hong Kong show since it launched in 2013. In addition to showing the Lichtenstein car, BMW will provide car service for VIPs attending the show at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.
The third car of the BMW Art Car Collection is a BMW 320 Group 5 racecar, created by American artist Roy Lichtenstein in 1977. Lichtenstein’s design is colorful and vibrant and reflects his famous comic strip style in the paintwork. “The painted lines symbolize the road the car has to follow and the artwork also portrays the surroundings through which the car is being driven,” the artist explained.
For almost 40 years, the BMW Art Car Collection has fascinated art and design enthusiasts as well as lovers of cars and technology the world over with its unique combination of fine art and innovative automobile technology. The collection currently includes seventeen cars by renowned artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Jenny Holzer, Olafur Eliasson, and Jeff Koons and has been presented at art fairs all over the world. In 2014, BMW published the first comprehensive book about the legendary BMW Art Cars.
In addition to Art Basel’s shows in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong, the BMW Group supports other prestigious art fairs all over the world, as well as the art initiatives Gallery Weekend Berlin and Independent Collectors.—Scott Blazey
