Posted by Nargess on October 14, 2010 · 5 Comments
The former BMW design director Chris Bangle once told me he believes at times form needs to follow fantasy. ‘For the future of car design, function is the last refuge of the unimaginative,’ he concluded. The Japanese are masters of fantasy – reflected through their imaginative, virtual worlds of animation and comics, anime and manga. Bangle may have said this to ruffle the stiff collars of the automotive world, but can car design learn... Read More
Filed under car culture, insight & interviews, latest thoughts · Tagged with Anima, Art Centre, Art Centre College of Design, Caricature, Cars, Cars & Mobility, Clean Car Design, Comics, François Bancon, Future Car Design, Gallardo, Ghost in the Shell, Graphic Art, Green Car Design, Honda, Infiniti, Japanese Animation, Japanese Car Design, Lamborghini, Luc Donckerwolke, Manga, Miura, Murciélago, Nissan, Nissan Design Europe, Science Fiction, Seat, Victor Nacif, Virtual World
As head of BMW’s cultural engagement, Thomas Girst is deeply passionate about arts and ideas. He involves the company in some really interesting projects which not only help these artists and institutions – many of whom rely entirely on corporate sponsorship – but the partnerships also subtly boost BMW’s brand image externally and internally.
Of course, there’s always been a mutually seductive rapport between art and money – and BMW isn’t alone even among car companies to tap into the art world. Yet, not all sponsorships and patronages feel genuine. Some are so off the rail you do wonder who signed the cheque.
Girst’s work, though, is different. His choices are relevant to the brand and are topical. They can also be daring – be it exploring the virtual real, the seducing powers of technology, or the plight of the refugee. The latest partnership looks at the climate crisis with Leelee Chan, the winner of the BMW Art Journey with Art Basel, examining how ancient materials and their future substitutes from the fields of nanotechnology and biotechnology inform our debate around ecological and cultural sustainability.
I spoke with Girst following the Art Journey announcement to see where he feels the art world is heading. And he spoke passionately about the vital need for corporations to sponsor and support the arts in the post-pandemic world. He also offered some valuable tips as to how businesses can best get involved with the creative world.
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