Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Keith Haring
Untitled (Car)
1986
Enamel on 1963 Buick Special
189 x 71 x 54 inches

MiamiArt & Culture

One Careful Owner

From junkyard wrecks to polished beauties, the car is the star of Art Basel show...

Good old fashioned 20th Century gas-guzzlers get a bad press from the Prius-brigade, but there was nothing to grumble about at this event – in fact Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile was a laudable example of recycling as well as an art exhibition. The re-imagined vehicle sculptures, all created since 1970, were curated by Venus Over Manhattan and Ferrari as part of Art Basel Miami Beach 2013, and reflected the enduring connection between the art world and cars.

Ron Arad’s Pressed Flower from 2013 features a Fiat (or should that be Flat?) 600 squashed to form a six-inch canvas. Another canvas-like piece, the transformed 1963 Buick now known as Untitled (Car), is instantly recognisable as the handiwork of Keith Haring, and Damien Hirst’s style is easy to spot in 2000’s Mini paintjob. Moving back into the sculptural lane, César’s 1995 Compression Voiture Venise needs a couple of dings knocking out, while Olivier Mosset and Jacob Kassay’s Ford Galaxy has arguably never looked better. As well a helping stage the event, Ferrari contributed possibly the most unusual exhibit; their F150 was the subject of Joshua Callaghan specially-commissioned 2D charcoal rubbing.

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Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

The Bruce High Quality Foundation
Art History with Passion 2013
Two Volkswagen Beetles video components
326 x 62 x 64 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Richard Phillips
Playboy Charger
2013
1972 Dodge Charger
206 1/2 x 80 x 53 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Damien Hirst
Untitled (Spot Mini)
2000
Automotive paint on Mini Cooper
52 3/4 x 70 x 120 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Joshua Callaghan
F150 2D
2013
Charcoal rubbing on un-stretched canvas
300 x 168 inches Edition of 2

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Richard Phillips
Playboy Charger
2013
1972 Dodge Charger
206 1/2 x 80 x 53 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Dan Colen and Nate Lowman
Welfare Mothers Make Better Lovers
2008
White 1973 Jaguar, speakers, speaker wire,
woofers & sub-woofers, monitors, DVD players,
GPS monitors, amps, power converters,
stereos, Christmas tree.
dimensions variable

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Tom Sachs
Untitled (1989 Chevy Caprice)
2007
1989 Chevrolet Caprice, mixed media
56 x 212 x 79 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Kenny Scharf
Ultima Suprema Deluxa 1984
1961 Cadillac, mixed media, acrylic,
spray-paint, found objects
68 x 78 x 22 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Richard Prince
Vanishing Point (The Artist Cut)
2012-13
2012 Dodge Challenger R/T
197 3/4 x 75 3/4 x 57 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Ron Arad
Pressed Flower (Baby You Can)
2013
Fiat 600, steel
83 x 150 x 40 inches

Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile

Dan Colen and Nate Lowman
Welfare Mothers Make Better Lovers
2008
White 1973 Jaguar, speakers, speaker wire,
woofers & sub-woofers, monitors, DVD players,
GPS monitors, amps, power converters,
stereos, Christmas tree.
dimensions variable