Wheels of Performance: Six Unique BMW 1 Series Cars

Six Artists and BMW open the Paris Pret-a-Porter Shows with 'Curious Wishes'

MUNICH, Germany and PARIS, Oct. 5 -- An outstanding international art event, created by BMW, brought additional cache to the pret-a-porter shows in Paris. Designers, style makers, visionaries, contemporary artists, high-end international media and VIPs were all witnesses when renowned avant-garde artists expressed their ideas with the new BMW 1 Series. For the happening called "Curious Wishes" in the Palais de Tokyo in the fashionable center of Paris, they mixed images and ideas with today's most respected creative minds. The cars of the BMW 1 Series became both lifestyle objects as well as the canvas on which the creative sparks were lit. This event stands for the spirit of Warhol's Factory carried into the 21st century.

Six international magazines, setting standards as style visionaries within fashion, have chosen an artist to develop a concept in which BMW allows them to transform a BMW 1 Series car from a blank canvas into a recorder of their creativity in an unique and exclusive happening. "Curious Wishes" transcendences into a breathtaking and inspiring performance: The artists were presenting their visions in a spontaneous, unexpected and impulsive way -- unconventional and exciting.

Wolfgang Flatz, who was nominated by "Playboy" Germany, created a "hell of a car" out of a BMW 1 Series. It's outer skin pocked-marked through the fire of Flatz's burner and "Luzie" was born. Being the daughter of Lucifer, master of the underworld, she fled her father's realm, passing through purgatory, which marked and branded her. Flatz's performance is part of the "Physical Sculptures", a series of sculptures by the famous artist from Munich. The Physical Sculpture "Luzie" stands in stark contrast to the ever-slicker appeal of current mass-market products.

Gloria Friedmann called her installation "Play Back Aus Eden". The German Noah's Ark. She arranged stuffed animals on and inside the car. Furthermore her artwork included a young girl speaking a litany that connected different means of transportation through evolution The French magazine "Numero" promoted her project.

The body of work of the New York based Dutch artist Jacqueline Hassink evolves around the notions of femininity and power. Her "Car Girls" series deal with the corporate seductresses presented as a selling point for the luxury automobile industry. The BMW 1 Series "Car Girls" piece explores the mannerisms of corporate car sale seduction and gives a voice to intimate concerns about car ownership. "Vogue Hommes International" promoted Jacqueline Hassink's project.

The idea of Miltos Manetas was to create a large-scale painting of a BMW Series 1 car depicting a girl using it as a play mat. The performance reproduced the painting: she plays on the car, mirroring her image on the painting. The French magazine "Purple" invited the Greek born painter who lives and works between Paris and Los Angeles.

Since 40 years Swip Stolk is one of the most important designers of the Netherlands. His BMW 1 Series car was given a second skin of matt black rubber under which tribal inspired reliefs invited the guests to caress the car. The figures on the photos went "underneath the skin" on all sides and looked like tribal tattoos. "Zoo Magazine" (Netherlands) promoted Swip Stolk.

Kez Glozier, the youngest artist of the happening, transferred his drawings onto the Quartz blue metallic BMW 1 Series. He painted the car to his liking using various materials, like newsprint, tissue paper, black paint, glue and transparencies. He transformed the car into his gothic creature, breathing life into it by attaching tentacles and allowing it to float within the haze bellowing from it's underbelly. "Dazed & Confused" from the United Kingdom promoted the boy.