Meet the future of the BMW Art Car. The German carmaker debuted “the ultimate AI masterpiece”, by merging art and technology to celebrate its 50th anniversary of Cultural Engagement this year.
BMW entrusted the project to creative technologist Nathan Shipley and art connoisseur Gary Yeh. The duo created 50 sets of curated work, imagined from an AI model cross-referencing 50 000 images across 900 years of history.
The result is a spectacular series of virtual renditions worn by the flagship 8 Series Gran Coupe and they debut in conjunction with Frieze New York 2021, which runs from May 5 – 9 at The Shed in Manhattan.
Shipley, based in San Francisco, and Yeh, based in Seoul, worked together virtually due to being 9 000 kilometres apart. The pair’s discussions included the technology behind the artwork created by the AI and BMW’s connection to the arts.
“During an unusually isolated time in history, we took to curate and work with artists from around the world as a means to give viewers a true art experience digitally”, said Gary Yeh, art collector and founder of ArtDrunk.
“AI is an emerging medium of creative expression. It’s a fascinating space where arts meets algorithm,” said Nathan Shipley, director of creative technology at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.
Over the past 50 years, BMW has joined forces with some the world’s preeminent art institutions to show off its collaborations with artists, musicians, designers and curators. The company’s drive towards initiatives such as the Guggenheim Lab and Tate Live and free concert series in Berlin, Munich, Moscow and London are great examples.
BMW’s Uwe Dreher, Vice President of marketing for the North American arm said it was looking “for new and creative ways to engage audiences, we shift to a virtual setting where we are combining centuries-old art and the latest AI technology to create something completely new and exciting.”
Check out the renditions displayed on the 8 Series Gran Coupe on BMW’s Instagram channel.
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