BMW has always been at the forefront of innovation and design, both in its cars and cultural engagement. The BMW Art Car series, which started in 1975, is a testament to the company’s vision of combining art and technology in unique and creative ways. Over the years, BMW has collaborated with some of the most renowned artists in the world, such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, and Jeff Koons, to transform its vehicles into moving artworks.
The latest addition to the BMW Art Car series is the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, a one-of-a-kind electric sedan that pays homage to the 12th BMW Art Car, the 1991 BMW 525i E34 designed by South African artist Esther Mahlangu. Mahlangu, who is currently the subject of a major retrospective at the Iziko South African Museum, was the first woman and African artist to work on an official BMW Art Car. She used her traditional Ndebele painting technique to adorn the car with colorful geometric patterns that reflect her culture and identity.
Inspiration
The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, which is named after Mahlangu’s first son, takes inspiration from her artistic language and updates it with the latest color-change technology developed by BMW in cooperation with E Ink. The car features sections of film that can be electronically animated, with two strips each across the roof, hood, sides, and rear. Like an e-book reader, there are several million microcapsules in each E Ink film. These microcapsules contain color particles that can change their structure when an electric voltage is applied, creating different shades of white, gray, and black.
The result is a dynamic and interactive exterior that can display various patterns and animations depending on the driver’s mood, the environment, or the occasion. The car can also communicate with its surroundings, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or other drivers, by showing messages or symbols on its body. For example, the car can display a smiley face to greet someone, a warning sign to alert of a hazard or a thank you note to express gratitude.
