Rolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub · Article.
THE ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM GALLERY A COMPLETELY UNIQUE SPACE TO EXHIBIT ART, WITHIN YOUR MOTOR CAR
27.07.2017 Press Kit
An application of glass runs uninterrupted across the fascia of the New Rolls-Royce Phantom, providing an unprecedented opportunity to present artwork, within your motor car. An understanding that the marque’s patrons are increasingly collectors of fine and contemporary art has led the Rolls-Royce Design Team, to create a space behind this glass, in which patrons can commission and curate art, a space aptly named, ‘The Gallery’.
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Georgina Cox
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
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Georgina Cox
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
An application of glass runs uninterrupted across the fascia of the
New Rolls-Royce Phantom, providing an unprecedented opportunity to
present artwork, within your motor car. An understanding that the
marque’s patrons are increasingly collectors of fine and contemporary
art has led the Rolls-Royce Design Team, fronted by Design Director,
Giles Taylor, to create a space behind this glass, in which patrons
can commission and curate art, a space aptly named, ‘The Gallery’.
“As patrons increasingly commission a Rolls-Royce for its
aesthetic power, they trust in the knowledge that only the finest
materials fashioned at the hands of a collective of skilled artisans
will produce a motor car that transcends its primary role as a means
of conveyance, to become a meaningful and substantive expression of
art, design and engineering excellence. ‘The Gallery’ is an innovation
that furthers Rolls-Royce’s unparalleled Bespoke capabilities. Patrons
are now invited to commission artworks for their own personal Gallery
within Phantom, in essence, bringing art, within art.” Torsten Müller
Ötvös, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said.
Rolls-Royce’s standing as creator of the most celebrated objects
in the world is informed by an intimate understanding that true luxury
is personal. This philosophy has driven the marque’s collective of
designers, artisans and engineers to constantly evolve the canvas from
which patrons of luxury can express their tastes and lifestyle requirements.
An intrinsic part of the Rolls-Royce Design team’s
responsibility is to understand and immerse themselves in a world of
luxury far beyond automotive horizons. Drawing inspiration from the
worlds of fashion, art and design, the collective continually examines
the work of experts in their fields, furthering skills and knowledge
in order to push the boundaries beyond the limitations car designers
are usually confined to.
In conceiving ‘The Gallery’, the design team has done just this.
‘The Gallery’ is a space in which to curate and to commission, to
exhibit, admire and reflect. A pure application of glass runs
uninterrupted across the fascia of the greatest luxury item in the
world, an innovation that furthers Rolls-Royce’s unparalleled Bespoke
vision and mastery of materials and craft.
“The reduced and symmetrically balanced line-work of Phantom’s
instrument panel frames a generous and beautifully simple application
of glass. It runs, uninterrupted, across the fascia, emphasising a
sense of width. Positioned front and centre, it is the focal point of
the interior of New Phantom, providing a perfect stage for artworks.
This treatment of glass enables an unprecedented opportunity for the
protection and presentation of works of art, which is why, we have
rather aptly named it, ‘The Gallery’.” Giles Taylor, Director of
Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said.
From a simple application of wood or metal, to a more complex
use of materials not normally viable in an automotive context and
enhanced by incorporating relief, ‘The Gallery’ extends the patron’s
experience of curation with the marque to a new realm.
In this spirit, Alex Innes, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer and
Creative Lead Designer of ‘The Gallery’ Artist Commissions, has
invited artists and master artisans from around the world to interpret
‘The Gallery’.
The result? A collection of unique and artistic creations, free
from the constraints of automotive design, to inspire the marque’s
patrons, in a way that only Rolls-Royce can.
Thorsten Franck
Digital Soul
A truly Bespoke commission,
Thorsten Franck’s Rolls-Royce Phantom Gallery, Digital Soul,
is an artistic interpretation of its Patron’s DNA. Thorsten, from
Munich, Germany, is a product designer who acts as a conduit between
computer-generated design, additive manufacturing and
hand-craftsmanship.
Thorsten’s fusion of human endeavour with technology results in
a work which juxtaposes the pre-disposed expectations of additive
manufacturing and computer generated design by creating an alluring
and visually complex fascia for New Phantom, adapting the use of
technology to render an artwork as unique as a fingerprint.
Alex Innes, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer and Creative Lead
Designer for ‘The Gallery’ artist commissions, identified a unique
skill in Thorsten Franck; the ability to transcend product design,
creating work which not only embodies the characteristics of
contemporary art, but which enters the realms of jewellery, sculpture
and architecture; a discipline made possible only by the use of
cutting-edge technology
Thorsten Franck begins by capturing the
patron’s character in a unique algorithm. This data is then
transcribed using the art of 3D printing, forming the largest piece of
3D printed stainless steel featured in a production car, made possible
only by this use of additive manufacturing.
Here, traditional artisanal craft blends exquisitely with
tomorrow’s production methods. More than one day of polishing produced
a work worthy of being plated in nearly 50g of 24 carat gold. The work
interacts with the changing light of the day, reflecting brilliance
whilst casting shadows. The visual characteristics of gold ensure each
observer’s experience will be a personal one dictated by their
physical position in Phantom and the strength of the sun’s rays or
soft glow of the up-lit stage lights on the gold, set within ‘The Gallery’.
Alex Innes, commented, “Thorsten Franck was selected for his
ability to meld craft with technology, bringing with him a new medium
of generated craft which is made possible only by the use of
technology. Thorsten’s work furthers the expectations of the use of
technology by creating a precious luxury item as Bespoke as the
Phantom in which it resides. His progressive depiction of an owners’
unique DNA is both avant-garde in its design and compelling in its beauty.”
Thorsten Franck said of the commission, “Additive manufacturing
is often viewed as a convenience or solution. My work embraces this
technology and manipulates it to produce a unique work of art that
could not be created by man alone. I have mapped an algorithm to
interpret your soul. The visual aesthetics of gold change throughout
the day by reflecting the light; there is life in this sculpture.”
Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg
Immortal Beauty
A truly individual rose,
conceived and bred exclusively for Rolls-Royce in the English
countryside by award-winning Harkness Roses, was flown to the
Nymphenburg Palace in Bavaria, Southern Germany, to awaiting master
artisans from world-renowned porcelain manufacturer Nymphenburg. Here,
the rose was examined in its varying stages, from bud to lush flower
in full bloom, and crafted freely by hand in the finest of porcelain
for the elegant sanctuary of ‘The Gallery’.
Founded in 1747, Nymphenburg porcelain graces the greatest
residences and collections of the world’s most prominent families.
These extraordinary pieces are collected and coveted in the knowledge
that their craftspeople have been afforded nearly 300 years to perfect
their art.
For this collaboration, a new porcelain formula was developed in
the manufactory in Munich, Germany. The development process alone
lasted three months in order to create porcelain as fine as the petal
of the rose itself. The range of roses depicted shows the varying
stages of the life of this rose, with some of the most elaborate
blossoms consisting of up to 80 individual elements freely shaped by hand.
The delicate aesthetic is accented in a contemporary way by the
marriage of black and white, a pairing uniquely perfected for this
artwork. Until now, the processing of white and black porcelain paste
has been strictly separated in the manufactory’s production process,
as even the smallest residue of black paste on a craftsperson’s tools,
invisible to the naked eye, leads to impurities that only become
visible after firing. Black porcelain had previously been held for the
preserve of casting, meaning the black paste had to be developed to
ensure it was as malleable as its white counterpart. For this unique
design, white and black paste has been created in parallel, in the
same soft state, at the workstation of Anton Hörl, a master craftsman
for Nymphenburg for over 40 years.
But each individual blossom only acquires its final appearance
when it is fired. Since the porcelain changes during the firing
process, and also shrinks by 17 per cent, individual firing supports
have had to be made. Also made from porcelain, these supported the
blossoms and leaves, preventing the draw of gravity. The white and
black bisque porcelain has been fired in a single process for the
first time, requiring the expert knowledge of the Nyphenburg kiln
foremen, who have developed a process with different firing curves,
which achieve an optimal result in just one firing process.
Anton Hörl, Master Porcelain Maker, Nymphenburg, commented,
“Nature is simply perfect and imitating it is a challenge. We as
artists have to ensure that our emulation does nature justice. I
wanted to feel the tension of each individual blossom. The observer
must be able to recognise not only the variety, but also its unique character.”
The rose, bred for Rolls-Royce by Philip Harkness of Harkness
Roses, was developed for its strength, resilience and intricate bloom.
The flower is large, opening from a plump rounded bud into a large
cupped bloom. The rose is strong with an admirable resistance to disease.
Sina Maria Eggl, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer, said, “Our search
for the quintessential English rose led us to award-winning Harkness
Roses. Here we collaboratively bred a rose worthy of its newly found
immortal being. Nymphenburg and Rolls-Royce engaged in an artistic
dialogue, allowing an advancement of existing methods of manufacture
and shifting the limits of what’s possible.”
Rose breeder Philip Harkness of Harkness Roses, added, “A rose
has the ability to captivate you on many levels. It is a thing of
beauty, it can stimulate the senses with wonderful perfume, the soft
touch of the petals or the rasping pain from a thorn. It touches our
emotions, signifies love and appears in some of our finest poetry. How
can a simple flower live up to this expectation? The new rose that
Rolls-Royce has commissioned makes easy work of the task. Observe the
glory of the bloom. There can be few more enjoyable experiences,
thanks to the unending generosity and diversity of nature captured in
one single rose.”
Helen Amy Murray
Whispered Muse
British artist Helen Amy Murray
reinterprets an icon. On visiting the Home of Rolls-Royce, Helen
encountered the figurine of the Spirit of Ecstasy which led her to an
exploration of the line drawings of its creator, sculptor and
illustrator Charles Sykes. The Spirit of Ecstasy, based on Sykes’
original bronze statue ‘The Whisper’, has graced the prow of every
Rolls-Royce motor car since 1911 and in doing so, has become a muse to
artists around the world for over 100 years.
Helen is an artist with a natural affinity with fabric. Her work
masterfully sculpts textiles, most frequently leather, suede and their
faux counterparts, into unique three-dimensional decorative surfaces
and compelling works of art. With a wide portfolio ranging from
large-scale wall hangings to unique pieces of furniture, Helen’s work
captivates in its sculpted textural form.
With a Masters Degree in Textile Design from London’s Central St
Martins, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Colour and Trim Designer, Cherica Haye,
was perfectly placed to collaborate with Helen. Together, they
experimented, developed and refined various iterations of this
Gallery’s design.
Helen has skilfully created a work for New Phantom’s Gallery
with a dual illusion. On first glance, a serene landscape emerges from
a delicate organic form. The sculpted silk appliqué provides a
mesmerising aesthetic with a linear style, from which, on closer
examination, a subtle draped female form appears, the wing of the
elusive Spirit of Ecstasy. Even then, she appears shrouded in mystery,
with the design only hinting at her form through the delicate
silhouette of the line of her neck that emerges from the edge of ‘The Gallery’.
By creating different planes to the design through directional
sculpting, Helen has created individual contours, beautiful in their
own right, that fuse together to form a larger cohesive figural form.
Helen Amy Murray, artist, said of the design, “I was inspired by
the ethereal quality of the illustrations of The Spirit of Ecstasy by
Charles Sykes. They led me to incorporate the female form into my
work; I wanted my Gallery commission to look soft and organic. The
subtle spacing of lines brings the draped figure into perspective.”
Cherica Haye, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Colour and Trim Designer
commented, “The Spirit of Ecstasy extends her graceful wing to
enrapture her passengers and convey them to a serene sanctuary, where
the whisper of flight imbues calmness and tranquillity in Helen Amy
Murray’s Phantom Gallery. A true connection can be felt between
Helen’s materials and the subject, enhancing the graceful ambience of
the Phantom’s calm interior.”
Based Upon
A Moment in Time
“The sweet spot of luxury is a
beautiful crafted object, but somehow at the core of the object, is
something that is personal to the client.” Ian Abel, Co-founder, Based Upon.
It is a resonant understanding of this belief that led
Rolls-Royce to Based Upon, a collective of artists located in the
heart of London’s East End. A desire to commission an item so personal
it becomes a treasured legacy, surpassing superficial material
acquisition to become true luxury, is epitomised in A Moment in
Time. The work beguiles, speaking of the perceived control on
time that Phantom commands. Time stands still as you encounter the
presence of the motor car.
Considered storytelling is at the heart of Based Upon’s ethos.
The collective journeys the world uncovering rich narratives to inform
works ranging from public sculpture to finely crafted surface
applications for private residences, which have aesthetics at the
fore, blurring the lines of function and meaning.
Personal significance lies at the core of both Based Upon and
Rolls-Royce’s endeavour. The former, with tales of the patron
interwoven to the heart of its being, the latter, an item which
transcends its original role, to become an aesthetic representation of
personal endeavour.
On exploring the foundations of the world’s most celebrated
brand, Based Upon uncovered a marque that was founded on
experimentation, bold excitement and a desire to accomplish feats that
were deemed impossible. “This, excited us”, commented Ian Abell, Based
Upon’s co-founder. “When you get a brand like Rolls-Royce that has a
brand value that’s so heavy and so weighty in the consciousness of
design, of luxury, of Britain, of innovation, combined with The
Gallery’s specific brief and parameters of project, we got excited
with that.”
“The spirit of Rolls-Royce, namely, speed with silence, absence
of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy, and a
beautiful living organism of superb grace…”, the prose of Claude
Johnson, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce at the time of the Hon.
Charles Rolls and Sir Henry Royce. Based Upon sought to encapsulate
this spirit which is still found at the heart of the marque today,
alive in the Spirit of Ecstasy as she graces the prow of each motor
car made at the Home of Rolls-Royce.
This led to Based Upon’s interpretation of New Phantom’s
Gallery. Lex Welch, Co-founder of Based Upon, commented, “We tried to
capture a moment as though the Spirit of Ecstasy’s shawl was allowed
to drape over the car at high speed, capturing that moment that leaves
time standing still, as the Spirit of Ecstasy trails all in her wake.”
The creation of A Moment in Time is as remarkable as
its muse. A swath of silk was pulled through a tank of water, weighted
and suspended, controlling this moment. Captured on camera, the
resulting fluid form was then analysed by the Rolls-Royce Design team
and the artists of Based Upon, before being remastered in clay. A
malleable wax sculpture was then reworked to optimise the impact of
‘The Gallery’s’ space. This final interpretation was machined from a
solid billet of aluminium, polished to accentuate the curvature of the
alluded fabric.
Alex Innes, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer, said of the
collaboration, “Based Upon incorporate the essence of true luxury into
every element of their work. From the research and development, to
materials and execution, theirs is a perfect art of intellect and
skill, melded with an abundance of creativity. Their interpretation of
‘The Gallery’ is a truly emotive adaptation of the presence of Phantom.”
Richard Fox
Astrum
Phantom has been the canvas for some of
the most opulent expressions of true luxury in recent years. From
handwoven, hand-embroidered and hand-painted silk, to elaborate
depictions of cityscapes made from thousands of individually set
pieces of marquetry, Phantom embodies the Bespoke wishes of patrons
like no other.
British Designer and Goldsmith, Richard Fox, has himself been
part of Phantom’s rich history. The allure of gemstones and the desire
of Phantom’s patrons to furnish their interior cabin with precious
metals and captivating stones has led Richard Fox to embellish many
personal Rolls-Royce commissions with precious and semi-precious
jewels including diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies and Tanzanite.
Astrum, meaning star, constellation, glory, immortality and
Heaven, was a concept produced by Alex Innes of Rolls-Royce Bespoke
Design and Richard Fox of Fox Silver for New Phantom’s Gallery.
Inspiration was sought from artists who had explored the
starburst formation in both the natural and man-made world. Sea
urchins and plants, explosions and skyscapes, all had influence on
Astrum’s final design.
A star burst emanates from a centrally placed single brilliant
cut diamond, encased in platinum. Each solid silver spear, filed,
soldered, shaped and hand-polished, has been created to carry pear-cut
amethysts, evoking a precious jewel-like quality to the artwork. The
backing has been engraved with a guilloche effect, a technique found
in the finest of jewellery, formed to incorporate the curvature of the
dashboard and to provide visual depth to ‘The Gallery’. A rich
amethyst lacquer, named Violet de Nuit, is used to reflect and
intensify the colour of the stones carried at the ends of the spears.
The clock, viewed by many patrons as the jewel of the interior,
carries an additional guilloche design in sterling silver with the
same amethyst tint complementing that of the main body of work. Fine
wires have been laser-welded to the spears, positioned so the stones
stand proudly against the resplendent backdrop.
Alex Innes, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer, said of the
commission, “Richard Fox’s work can be found in some of our recent
most highly Bespoke iterations of Phantom. It is fitting therefore
that he has turned his hand to ‘The Gallery’, a space in which patrons
are invited to commission unique works of art, to bring objet d’art to
the centre stage of their New Phantom.”
Richard Fox MDes RCA commented, “The Gallery offers patrons of
Phantom an unparalleled level of Bespoke opportunities. The use of
natural gemstones and a brilliant cut diamond will bring movement to
‘The Gallery’, as light refracts, accentuating the depth of the
design. This work brings an entirely new interpretation of diamonds to
the dashboard.”
Nature Squared
Iridescent Opulence
Wings of flight transcend
the worldly stage to cosset Phantom’s occupants in rich, iridescent,
sumptuous luxury.
Swiss-based Nature Squared creates beautiful things for
beautiful spaces. Applying heritage artistic crafts to ethically
sourced and sustainable natural materials, Nature Squared embrace
technical innovation to transform nature’s beauty. In a move that
echo’s the views of Rolls-Royce, Nature Squared embraces artisanal
skills which are the antithesis of mass production. Their work can be
found in the upper echelons of many industries where a desire to be
surrounded by objects of outstanding natural beauty prevails.
Alex Innes, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer and Creative Lead
Designer of the artistic Gallery commissions, commented, “Nature
Squared is an established materials specialist which creates
astoundingly beautiful finishes using the latest technology to
transform sustainable natural materials. A desire to redefine
expectations of the use of these natural sources leads Nature Squared
to an unrivalled realm with luxury at its core.”
For their Phantom Gallery commission, Nature Squared was
inspired to work with items that have until now been impossible to
incorporate into a motor car. Feathers, which exude luxury, are a bold
and progressive aesthetic to incorporate into an automotive context.
Extensive research was carried out to identify a sustainable species
of bird with a rich dense plumage which would provide an opulent and
decadent interior to adorn Phantom’s Gallery. Over 3,000 tail feathers
were selected for their iridescence, individually shaped to accentuate
the sheen and rich hue of the natural feathers and hand-sewn onto an
open pore fabric in a design that originates from the heart of ‘The
Gallery’, the clock. Additive manufacturing was used to emulate the
musculature of a natural wing to bring life to the creation, creating
an atmospheric artwork that brings both movement and fragility to this Gallery.
The clock alone is a work to be revered. Continuing their
exploration of organic materials, the centrepiece is inlaid with
ethically and sustainably sourced Jade green abalone, which emphasises
the lustrous texture of the feathers.
Martin Ehrath, Head of Research and Development for Nature
Squared, commented, “The inky iridescence and sumptuous texture of the
feathers provide a sense of true luxury. Phantom’s clock has been
softly cossetted by feathers, their fragility protected by ‘The
Gallery’s’ glass fascia. The timeless beauty and elegant grace of this
Gallery is preserved in the sanctity of Phantom’s interior.”
Liang Yuanwei
Autumn Palette
Liang Yuanwei is a widely
acclaimed and internationally exhibited Chinese artist. In her
commission for the New Phantom, she ponders the Autumnal tones of the
English countryside that surround the Home of Rolls-Royce in West
Sussex, which she encountered during her time with the marque. The
atmospheric countryside of England, with fertile soil and abundant
vegetation and differing layers of colours from green to yellow, even
red, are redolent in her artwork for ‘The Gallery’.
Liang Yuanwei said of the commission, “My artwork for ‘The
Gallery’ is reflective of the impression that I get from the marque,
having seen the human and natural environment of Rolls-Royce Motor
Cars’ headquarters. I wanted to capture the atmosphere and reproduce
it. That feeling is sophisticated, a sophistication that envelops you.”
Liang Yuanwei applies paint so thickly that it appears almost
sculpted, carving floral and geometric patterns whose fissures are
filled with additional layers of paint to create a finish resembling
silk or satin. Her work masterfully captures the impression and
texture of fabric through her application of paint. Here, from
seemingly random strokes applied from left to right, come exquisite
forms. In a serene and meditative scene, the closer you observe, the
more you find.
Alex Innes, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer commented, “The
landscape in which artists present their work is evolving. Liang
Yuanwei embraces the opportunity presented by the New Phantom Gallery
to create a mesmerising painting that is reminiscent of the
countryside surrounding the Home of Rolls-Royce.”
“I saw that it was possible to combine my artistic vision with
the vision of Rolls-Royce. I have found a common ground between my own
creative system and what I feel is the culture of Rolls-Royce. My work
references this. commented Liang Yuanwei.
She continued, “Like painting, the many aesthetic details of a
car represent the brand's values and heritage. In each historical
era, a brand must choose a particular direction over other options.
This choice represents its view of the world in that era. Over time, a
brand’s culture is passed on to the present. Some things persist, some
things elapse, some things are abandoned, and some things evolve. This
is the way of inheritance with a sense of responsibility, like the
detailed strokes of a painting. This is also the approach to my work.”