Piston Head: Artists Engage the Automobile / Venus Over Manhattan in Miami Beach
By Enrico
“… a roaring motor car which seems to run on machine-gun fire, is more beautiful than the Nike of Samothrace.” declared artist Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in his Futurist Manifesto of 1909. Not just the Futurists were inspired by the machine that for over 125 fascinates people. Many artists have a passion for cars, and create art influenced by the automobile.
During Art Basel Miami Beach, the gallery Venus Over Manhattan presented an exhibition that provided another view on art’s special relationship with the car as cultural icon and fetish object. Entitled Piston Head – Artists Engage the Automobile, the show includes works by Ron Arad, Bruce High Quality Foundation, César, Dan Colen and Nate Lowman, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Virginia Overton, Olivier Mosset/Jacob Kassay/Servane Mary, Richard Phillips, Richard Prince, Tom Sachs, Salvatore Scarpitta, Kenny Scharf, and Franz West. Los Angeles-based artist Joshua Callaghan created a new work for the exhibition, a signature ‘rubbing’ of Ferrari’s LaFerrari hybrid supercar, which was on view with Piston Head in Miami Beach.
Fittingly presented on the the top level of the Herzog & de Meuron designed 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage, the exhibition features artworks that both show the power and glamour of the car, such as Richard Phillips’ Playboy Charger, as well as its decay and desolation, such as Lucien Smith’s totally rusted truck that is riddled with countless bullets – a vehicle that once served as the target at a shooting range.
The above video is an excerpt, the complete video with footage from the opening party is available for members after the break, as well as a photo set.
Piston Head – Artists Engage the Automobile. Venus Over Manhattan, 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. December 3, 2013.