If the remarkable artiste that is 81-year-old Esther Mahlangu made it, there is absolutely no reason that you cannot. 25 years ago, Esther Mahlangu, a South African artist, was the first woman to create artwork based on a BMW 525i sedan,
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Now for the second time she has joined forces with the powerful automobile company to transform a luxury 7 series into a dynamic work of art by painting her characteristic motifs on the real wood interior trims.
Take a look at this.
1. To facilitate this, the specialists at BMW developed a special, white-coloured fine-wood trim to be painted with Esther’s images before sealing and installing them within the equally remarkable vehicle.
Image: BMW Group
2. The one-of-a-kind vehicle will be shown to the public for the first time at the 2016 Frieze Art Fair (October 5-9) in Regent’s Park, London.
Image: BMW Group
3. It is wonderful to discover that Ndebele traditional art forms have survived past hundreds of years
Image: BMW Group
3. Esther said “To paint is in my heart and it’s in my blood. The way I paint was taught to me by my mother and my grandmother.”
Image: BMW Group
4. “The images and colours have changed and I have painted on many different surfaces and objects but I still love to paint. The patterns I have used on the BMW parts marry tradition to the essence of BMW.”
Image: BMW Group
4. “When BMW sent me the panels to paint, I could see the design in my head and I just wanted to get started!”
Image: BMW Group
5. “I start 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.”
Image: BMW Group
6. “My art has taken me all over the world and I have seen many places, I have painted many walls and objects and my work is in many museums.”
Image: BMW Group
7. “But I am still Esther Mahlangu from Mpumalanga in South Africa. My heart was full of joy when BMW asked me again to paint for them.”
Image: BMW Group
