The BMW Art Car World Tour kicks off in Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia is the first stop for the international museum exhibiton about “rolling sculptures”.

The BMW Group started the world tour of its unique and rare BMW Art Car Collection in the Malaysian capital today. BMW cars designed by artists Frank Stella (1976), Roy Lichtenstein (1977), Andy Warhol (1979), and Ken Done (1989) are being presented at Galeri Petronas in KLCC from September 15 until October 22, 2006.


View More Pictures from the exhibition click here.

BMW Group, Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Richard Gaul said, “The BMW Art Cars represent BMW’s commitment within the arts and are one of hundreds of cultural engagements that the BMW Group is involved in worldwide. The BMW Group sees the development and realization of cultural projects in cooperation with private and public institutions as a pioneering way of promoting networks within the cultural landscape.”

Gaul added that the BMW Art Car World Tour will take the ‘rolling sculptures’ to Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Taiwan, China, Russia, Turkey, the United States of America and Europe.

The initial idea for the collection, which was to have an automobile redesigned by an artist, was introduced by Hervé Poulain, an auctioneer and ardent racing driver from France. It was upon his initiative that his American friend, an artist by the name of Alexander Calder, transformed his BMW racing Car - a BMW 3.0 CSL - in 1975. The first vehicle to establish a symbiosis between the world of art and the world of motor sport later participated in the 24-hour race at Le Mans.

Prompted by enormous enthusiasm for this work of art on wheels, BMW then established the Art Car Collection. In the initial years only racing cars that had taken part in the renowned 24-hour race at Le Mans were worked on. Later, production cars were added to the spectrum. The final work of the series to date was completed by the American concept artist Jenny Holzer, who covered the surface of a BMW V12 Le Mans racing car with her word art known as "truisms".

The 15 exhibits which have thus far been presented in the BMW Art Car Collection include works by well-known artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, A.R. Penck, David Hockney and Jenny Holzer.

The Art Cars reflect the developments in art history with regard to fine art, design and technology and are displayed worldwide in major museums such as the Paris Louvre, the Royal Academy in London, the New York Whitney Museum of Modern Art, Venice’s Palazzo Grassi, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum and the Guggenheim Museums of New York and Bilbao. In the future, too, Art Cars will document the fascinating link between art and technology in international exhibitions.

Director of Galeri Petronas, Tengku Nasariah Tg Ibrahim, said the gallery felt privileged to be chosen as the venue for the BMW Art Car World Tour debut. “As the first in the region to present the BMW Art Cars, Galeri Petronas is honoured to join the ranks of other prominent art galleries and museums in the world. In their way, BMW's efforts and involvement in cultivating the appreciation for art among the public is indeed commendable. This is very much in line with PETRONAS' objective for establishing Galeri Petronas which is to inspire Malaysians and promote holistic development.

“Cultural Communications has been an essential activity for the BMW Group for over three decades. With the precedence that art and culture must retain their independence, the BMW Group forms lasting and exclusive partnerships with cultural organizations and creative artists”, said Gaul in explaining the Group’s philosophy and approach towards culture.