During the Munich Car Show, BMW’s culture division prepared a lovely surprise for those who dedicated some time to cultivating their mind at the IAA 2021.
During the weeks around the IAA, they borrowed some of their famous Art Cars to the Museum of Modern Art in downtown Munich.
These cars are more than fitting in the Pinakothek. Each vehicle was designed by artists whose work is now highly sought after in the most renowned museums, like Andy Warhol or Jeff Koons. Every collector would give their right arm for sculpture or painting from them.
The Pinakothek der Moderne is a modern art museum, situated in central Munich’s Kunstareal. It is one of the world’s largest museums for modern and contemporary art, and it has a permanent exhibition on cars.
This is not the first time we have covered the fusion of Art and Automotive. In 2018, the Kunstapalast Düsseldorf organised a similar, but even more impressive temporary exhibition called “PS I Love you” about the cars that redefined car design.
Art meets Automotive at the PS I Love you exhibition in Düsseldorf
The Museum and Gallery in Düsseldorf is a purpose-built cultural event hall. You can also ask for portable stools, in case you wish to spend a longer staredown in front of artefacts, to let impressions sink in.
The Pinakothek offers the same experience with its massive modern halls, but its car exhibition only lasts a single hall with a dozen vehicles.
The six cars of the permanent exhibition include a few evergreens, like the Porsche 911 (a 1986 late version of the classic 911 was exhibited).
This design was in production for nearly 20 years and cemented the Porsche car company’s position in the sports car market. Ferdinand Porsche still greatly influenced the design, but the lead person was his son, Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche.
Another true automotive milestone was the 1937 Tatra 87, credited to Hans Ledwinka, Austrian born designer who led Tatra between the wars.
From this exhibition, one might think, the rear engine layout became the prevailing drivetrain, as the collection features a third car with a rear-engine, the iconic Beetle. The exhibition credits this design to Ferdinand Porsche, but the story is more intricate.
Ferdinand Porsche was the Iron Man of the Third Reich and received credit for the design, but later, Ledwinka was rehabilitated in his influence. In Volkswagen’s Zeithaus, it is Erwin Komenda who was honoured for the original Beetle.
The other two cars from German manufacturers are an Adler 2.5 Litre (Type 10) and a Steyr Baby.
The post-war models include an NSU Ro80, the revolutionary model that earned a car of the year award but caused the brand’s downfall a few years later.
The other post-war icon is literally an automotive Goddess, as the DS name in French means precisely that. The revolutionary design is credited to Flaminio Bertoni.
The six motorcycles encompass pre-war and post-war bikes, and this time, even a few BMWs were selected, although my personal favourite is the red bicycle concept designed by Luigi Colani.
Coming back to the main course of this article, for the duration of the IAA 2021, the Pinakotheke’s car hall re received reinforcements from BMW’s factory museum BMW World.
The BMW World showcases design icons, racing legends and a bold vision that nobody asked for
The mastermind behind the Art Car series is Hervé Poulain. As an auctioneer and racing driver, Mr Poulain was firmly embedded into both art circles and the motorsports world. He peaked as second in his category at Le Mans in the ’70s. Even last year, he still chaired Retromobile’s prime auction run by Artcurial (he is now 80 years old!). …
When he decided to race in Le Mans, he brought together the most iconic artists to provide a stylish livery for BMW race cars. So the first cars in the series were race cars with liveries designed by famous artists, like the M1 designed by Warhol.
The series later evolved off the race track into an art project with road cars. BMW World’s collection features both specimens, the ones in the Pinakothek were usually race cars (aka. the “big four”).
My personal favourite is still the M1, kept in a glass cage in front of the Museum. Warhol’s Art Car seems like a completely different car from each corner.
This work of art on wheels was employed in racing for the first and last time in the 24-hour race at Le Mans in 1979. The M1 designed by Warhol started on the grid with the number 76 and was driven by Manfred Winkelhock, Hervé Poulain and Marcel Mignot. They achieved sixth place in the overall rating and second place in their class.
The next car waiting by the cash desk is Jeff Koons’ 2010 BMW M3 GT2, raced by Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Dirk Werner. Mr Koons is an American artist recognised for his work dealing with popular culture and everyday objects. He is also credited with two record auction sales, the highest selling for USD 91.1 million (!!!) in 2019. His marriage and (art) work with Hungarian porn star Cicciolina also polished his fame.
The Koons design car started with the number 79 at Le Mans, a tribute to Andy Warhol’s BMW Art Car. Nevertheless, the car struggled with technical problems and had to retire after only five hours of racing.
Another car guarding the permanent exhibition is the 1977 BMW 320i painted by Roy Lichtenstein. He is considered one of the founders of American pop art in the ‘60s.
Roy Lichtenstein’s Art Car premiered at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and was entered Le Mans in June 1977. The car was driven by Hervé Poulain and Marcel Mignot and finished ninth overall and second in its class. And by class, I did not mean art cars only : ) but the entire IMSA GT.
The exhibition kept a hall dedicated to Art Cars, keeping two specimens and a collection of small-scale models.
One of them is a personal favourite, designed by Alexander Calder. He was most noted for his abstract mobiles, hailed by critics as the most innovative American sculptures of the 20th century.
The BMW 3.0 CSL, with which Alexander Calder laid the foundation for the Art Car Collection in 1975, was also one of his final works of art before his death. As in the case of his sculptures and mobiles, he used intense colours and gracefully sweeping surfaces, which he distributed generously over the wings, bonnet and roof. Poulain’s car did not finish the race but still entered posterity by launching the Art Car series.
Once Poulain and BMW parted way, the success of the series drove both sides to pursue their course. Poulain continued his Art car projects during his racing career. I recall from the McLaren stage at Retromobile 2020, the silver 1995 McLaren F1 GTR #05R Art Car by César was driven by Mr Poulain. The car’s most memorable appearance was at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it sported a striking art-car livery and finished 13th overall.
BMW also continued an entire series of art cars, working with notable artists to create rolling sculptures, this time off the track. The exhibited 1986 BMW 635 CSi, designed by Robert Rauschenberg, was such an off-track road car. In fact, this specimen was intended solely as an exhibit and was never driven on the road or in a race.
Rauschenberg used other artists works processed by photographic techniques. This BMW is covered in black and white mosaics of paintings and artworks that form narrative elements composing a virtual story for the observer to behold.
BMW also issued a complete series of 1:18 die-cast models that now probably reached considerable street value. The exhibition showcases a complete set of models illustrating the entire series.
Mr Poulain made history with BMW in several ways. His tradition continued at BMW, and many other brands discovered this art form.
For an overview of the museums we visited, check out the interactive map:
In order to access the full gallery of over 70 images, you have to click on the second page of this article (the “2” tile a little bit further down below).
