Andy Warhol's vintage cars
An exhibition at the MAC Museum Art & Cars in Singen, Germany shows an Andy Warhol series called "Cars," which was commissioned by the Daimler Group to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the automobile in 1986.
Auto art
An exhibition at the MAC Museum Art & Cars in Singen, Germany shows an Andy Warhol series called "Cars," which was commissioned by the Daimler Group for the 100th anniversary of the automobile in 1986. From the first motorized carriage to the "Gullwing," all cars in the showroom are accompanied by a Warhol interpretation. The artist completed 40 of the planned 80 paintings before his death.
The first Benz
On January 29, 1886, Karl Friedrich Benz registered a vehicle with 0.8 hp and a top speed of 18 km/h at the patent office. The first person to go out for a drive with it was his gutsy wife Bertha, who took it out for a 100-kilometer spin. As the story goes, two peasant boys who heard the rattling vehicle thought it was the devil.
Patented screen printing
Andy Warhol turned the rumbling vehicle into a very unthreatening and colorful silkscreen collage. The artist's "Cars" series powerfully demonstrates how art and product design can complement each other. Warhol stays true to his signature serial technique, which he frequently used in portraits of celebrities.
Pure luxury
The Mercedes Benz 15/70 was a luxury model which was introduced on the market in 1924. Ladies raved about its stylish exterior, whereas gentlemen were excited by its powerful engine, which could reach up to 140 hp. The open touring car was just as popular as the Pullman limousine. Andy Warhol added green reflections in his interpretation of the model.
A legend on the racetrack
The name Silver Arrows makes the hearts of racing enthusiasts beat faster. This speedy car played in the top leagues for almost five decades, collecting numerous awards. The first Silver Arrows model, the Mercedes-Benz W25, won its very first race in 1934. Its successor not only won the Grand Prix of Tripoli, but six other international races as well.
Eight-pack of Silver Arrows
For Andy Warhol, the legendary Silver Arrows was a perfect candidate for his Pop Art serial imagery. His rendition of the car looks a bit like barbecued chickens. The Pop artist took the cult racing car and gave it a slightly ironic touch.
Bold tones
Car manufacturers have to follow strict guidelines. The W125 was created to comply with the weight limit prescribed by the Grand Prix rules set in 1934, which stipulated that cars should not exceed 750 kilograms, excluding fuel, oil, water and tires. When he produced his version of the Silver Arrows, Warhol stuck to his own basic principles: bright colors.
High tech from 1969
The experimental automobile C111 was the super sports car of its days, reaching a top speed of 300 km/h. Although demand was very high - some clients even sent in blank checks - the C111 never went into mass production. In Warhol's image sequence, the cars with their doors wide open look like insects ready to attack.
The sports car of the century
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL created a sensation when it came out in New York in 1954. With a top speed of 250 km/h, it was the fastest production car of its time. It was nicknamed "Gullwing" because of its upward opening doors. In 1999, a jury of automobile journalists proclaimed it "the sports car of the century."
Dream cars live and on screen
This exhibition at the MAC Museum Art & Cars is sure to please both car and art lovers. The legendary vintage cars accompanied by Andy Warhol's colorful works of art can still be admired in the town of Singen in southern Germany until May 17, 2015.