MOTORING NEWS - Esther Mahlangu, a South African Ndebele artist, was the first woman to create artwork on a BMW 525i Sedan 26 years ago, turning it into a colourful BMW Art Car.
Last year, she was again commissioned by the BMW Group to decorate a BMW 7 Series. The vehicle was on display at the 2016 Frieze Art Fair in London. The original BMW 525i Art Car was also part of the exhibition "South Africa: the art of a nation" at the British Museum as a significant piece.
BMW Group South Africa is now the proud owner of Esther's commissioned BMW panels painted in Ndebele art, which have been installed into a new BMW 750Li Individual.
The vehicle will form part of BMW Group South Africa's Heritage Collection and will be a display vehicle at various events to preserve her cultural heritage for the people of South Africa.
"I am so glad that BMW brought my art back to South Africa, it is a beautiful car to be shared with the people of South Africa for many years to come," says Mahlangu.
"The patterns I have used on the BMW panels marry tradition to the essence of BMW. When BMW sent me the panels to paint, I could see the design in my head and I just wanted to get started. I started by painting the small ones first to get the feel of the surface and then it was easy as the design follows the lines of the panels," she adds.
Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, is proud that Mahlangu's work will now be preserved in her home country. The BMW Individual 7 Series by Mahlangu is a right-hand drive vehicle, boasting an array of equipment from the comprehensive BMW Individual Collection. The 20" light alloy wheels underscore the elegant appearance of the BMW 7 Series while the exterior bodywork is coated in BMW Individual Aventurine Red Metallic.
The interior features full fine-grain Merino leather, the highest quality leather available, and seats with weave-look stitching and hand-woven piping.
The prestigious BMW 750Li is powered by a high-performance BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol engine, 330kW with a published fuel consumption of 8,0 litres per 100km in the combined cycle, CO² emissions of 187g/km and a powerful maximum torque of 650Nm. The dynamic sedan sprints from 0 to 100km in just 4,7 seconds. The top speed is limited to 250km. It features an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and has the lowest vehicle weight in its segment. It also features game-changing innovations, benchmarking comfort and contemporary design as well as dynamics that are both impressive and highly efficient.
Traditionally, Ndebele women decorate the exterior walls of houses with elaborately painted patterns and graphic elements, symbolising important events such as weddings and celebrations. Thus the walls are used as an active communication medium within the community.
Products from the BMW Individual Collection offer exclusive paint finishes, high quality leather, special interior trims and other equipment options.
For an even more special car, BMW Individual Manufaktur offers designs for the interior according to personal preference. This includes initials or logos on the interior trim, door sill finishers, headrests or sun protection blinds.
These vehicles demonstrate the outstanding craftsmanship and the nature of the BMW Individual Manufaktur, which is customer orientation of the highest degree.
Apart from other art initiatives, such as BMW Tate Live, the BMW Art Journey and the "Opera for All" concerts in Berlin, Munich and London, the company also partners with museums and art fairs, orchestras and opera houses around the world.
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