VIDEO: More celebrating as Mini marks 50th Anniversary with Wash Me
Mini 50th anniversary project Wash Me -- Click above for high-res photo gallery
You didn't really think it was going to stop with Krink, did you? Oh no. Mini and art have combined again on a limited-edition book and art project called "Wash Me." Starting with the idea of the "Wash me!" imperative scrawled into dirty cars the world over, ten artists that have never used a car as a canvas have "transformed [a Mini] into a transient work of art."
What does that mean? It means they painted a bunch of Minis lots of different colors and wrote (ironic?) things on them. And there were gorillas involved. Two, in fact. Or maybe it was one gorilla and Sasquatch. You can see for yourself in the video and press release after the jump, and the high-res gallery of images below. Take that, art world.
Gallery: Mini Wash Me Anniversary Project
[Source: Mini]
PRESS RELEASE
"Wash Me". Ten MINI cars. Ten artists. To mark its 50th anniversary, MINI launches the book "Wash Me."
05.11.2009, Zurich -- It's always tempting to write "Wash Me" on a dirty car or to draw something on a fogged windscreen with your finger. Everyday situations like this were the inspiration for this publication, says Nico Ammann, art director and photographer of the works featured in the book to be published by MINI Switzerland in a limited edition of 2,000.
The upshot is a colourful volume depicting a wide range of subjects, and one that will appeal not only to MINI fans. The common thread is that none of the ten artists has ever before worked with the automobile as a medium, and each has transformed it into a transient work of art.
The following artists and authors contributed to the book project: Smash137, Fabian Bertschinger, Marisa Pichler and Gigi Burn, Tika, Euro, Aurèle Sack, Stefan Ege and Seak, August, Rémi Jaccard and, last but not least Dieter Meier, also famous as the singer in the band Yello.
Designer Alfredo Häberli provided two sketches and an article. The author and journalist Michèle Roten and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Otten, director of the design department at Zurich University of the Arts, likewise made creative written contributions to the book, which will be out in early November.
Art always was, and remains, a key aspect of the MINI brand. MINI is, for example, the exclusive partner of the "Ludlow 38" exhibition space at the Goethe-Institut in New York, located in the heart of the thriving gallery district in the Lower East Side, near Chinatown and not far from the New Museum of Contemporary Art. Since its inauguration in 2008, this gallery space has presented contemporary artistic projects in collaboration with various cultural partners in Germany. Through its partnership with brands such as Bisazza and its involvement with FIAC 2007 or the International Talent Support / MINI International Photo Award in Trieste, MINI also remains true to its traditional involvement with unconventional cultural projects. Reason enough to welcome the launch of a vibrant photo book that is bound to delight MINI fans as well as design, art and photographic enthusiasts. For further information on the book please go to www.washme.ch.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paul 7:00PM (11/05/2009)
The Mini j*zzed in its pants.
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Sam 4:04AM (11/06/2009)
You would think they would show a picture of atleast one actual mini?
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hbh 4:27AM (11/06/2009)
Am I the only one getting a wee bit bored with Mini's "clever" marketing stunts?
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twistedbitz 9:11AM (11/06/2009)
MINI does all types of kool and stupid stuff, like their clothing line is "usually" lame but, that's the fun part of being a MINIac. Their original USA ad agency much better, I think. I've had 3 of the little buggers and love my present 2004 S but I wish MINI/BMW would build better cars... I'm just saying.
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twistedbitz 9:12AM (11/06/2009)
BTW... loved the KRINK'd MINI and this is kool also.
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