The Institute of Contemporary Arts, in partnership with BMW and the Mayor of London, will show the unique BMW Art Car Collection in an east London car park from 21 July to 4 August.
The exhibition is part of the London 2012 Festival and features 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.
The BMW Art Car Collection started in 1975 when French racing driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain invited his friend Alexander Calder to design a racing car that would ultimately compete in the Le Mans 24-hour race. Since then, other artists' interpretations include David Hockney’s 1995 Art Car which 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.
The exhibition takes place between 21 July and 4 August 2012 at the NCP Great Eastern Street Car Park, 35 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3ER. Admission is free.
For an online tour of the entire BMW Art Car Collection, please visit the BMW Art Car website.