A homage to one of BMW’s most recognisable Art Cars has been unveiled at the Frieze Los Angeles event.
The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana is intended as a tribute to the 5 Series Art Car from 1991, created by Esther Mahlangu.
One of South Africa’s best-known artists, the distinctive style of 88-year-old Mahlangu’s work has been combined with modern technology to create a new Art Car. The one-off electric i5 takes its ‘Nostokana’ name from Mahlangu’s first son.
A cutting-edge canvas
Esther Mahlangu was the first woman, and the first African, to create an Art Car when she painted the BMW 525i in 1991. Using elements that reference her Ndebele heritage, the brightly coloured 5 Series has been displayed around the world, including at the British Museum in 2017.
For its innovative tribute, BMW has used E-Ink technology on the body of an i5 saloon. Almost 1,350 sections of E-Ink film, which can be separately controlled, have been applied to the sides, roof, bonnet and boot of the i5.
This allows for the colour and pattern shown to be changed by varying the electrical current applied, similar to an e-book reader.
The result is a constantly changing pattern in the style of Mahlangu’s painting, combined with sounds that increase in intensity as the artwork evolves on the car.
‘Technology itself becomes art’
BMW has demonstrated its E-Ink technology before, using it on the iX Flow concept in 2022. This could transform from having white to black bodywork instantly. Multi-coloured E-Ink was also used on the BMW i Vision Dee concept.
It points to a future where owners could rapidly change the exterior colour of their car.
Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, commented: “The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana honours the history of the BMW brand and continues the story of our global cultural engagement in a unique way. It combines art and design through progressive technology. Here, technology itself becomes art”.
Esther Mahlangu added: “It is fascinating to me to see how modern technology can expand my art and make it accessible to a completely new audience”.
With the i5 Nostokana on display in Los Angeles, the company will also show the original 1991 5 Series Art Car in Cape Town as part of an exhibition dedicated to Mahlangu’s work.
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