Rolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub · Article.
MUSE, THE ROLLS-ROYCE ART PROGRAMME COMMENCES FIRST SPIRIT OF ECSTASY CHALLENGE
06.02.2022 Press Kit
Muse, the Rolls-Royce Art Programme, today announces the commencement of the inaugural Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge. As a biennial initiative, the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge invites emerging design visionaries to create unique works inspired by Rolls-Royce and the Spirit of Ecstasy, the sculptural figurine that adorns the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce motor car.
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Emma Rickett
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Related Links.
- Muse, the Rolls-Royce Art Programme commences inaugural Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge
- Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge invites emerging designers to create unique works, inspired by Rolls-Royce and Spirit of Ecstasy
- Esteemed jury of design experts to select three finalists to create works in the medium of textile
“The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge is the second commissioning
initiative of Muse, the Rolls-Royce Art Programme. While the Dream
Commission supports artists working with moving-image art, the
Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge embraces the diverse skill and
creativity that exists within the world of design.
"Through the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge, Rolls-Royce
harbours a desire to expand technical and conceptual boundaries,
leaving a legacy of creative achievement with the Spirit of Ecstasy
as its point of reference. This reflects the very essence of who we
are at the House of Rolls-Royce – we have an enduring commitment to
craftsmanship, rarity, conscientiousness, and of course, a constant
striving for perfection. I hope to see this translated into the
creations of the three Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge finalists.”
Anders Warming
, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Muse, the Rolls-Royce Art Programme, today announces the
commencement of the inaugural Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge. As
a biennial initiative, the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge
invites emerging design visionaries to create unique works
inspired by Rolls-Royce and the Spirit of Ecstasy, the sculptural
figurine that adorns the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce motor car. The
Spirit of Ecstasy symbolises excellence, innovation and creativity,
and is the ideal muse for this new, future focused design initiative.
An esteemed jury of design experts will select three designers
to participate in the first ever Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge.
The jury members include, Anders Warming, Director of Design,
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Yoon Ahn, Director of Jewellery at Dior Men
and Founder of Ambush; Tim Marlow, Chief Executive and Director at the
Design Museum, London; and Sumayya Vally, Founder and Principal at
Counterspace Studio, Johannesburg.
The Challenge invites emerging designers to experiment and
expand the boundaries of materials that are key to Rolls-Royce
craftsmanship, bringing together design, materials and craft into a
dynamic dialogue. Celebrating tradition and innovation, each biennial
Challenge will focus on a different medium and related field of
practice – the selected medium for 2022 is textile. The chosen
finalists will be announced in March 2022.
In 2021, a long list of emerging creative talents were nominated
by an international committee of figures from the design world: Glenn
Adamson, US-based curator, writer and former museum director; Anne
Marr, Programme Director of Jewellery, Textiles and Materials at
Central St Martins, London; Nana Ocran, Founding Editor of People's
Stories Project, who works between the UK and Ghana; and Mizuki
Takahashi, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Centre for
Heritage, Arts and Textile, Hong Kong.
Designers nominated for the Challenge were invited to create a
proposal that would surprise, delight, and inspire. Entrants were also
asked to consider their culture and heritage, the local and the global
environment in which their creation will exist, sustainability and the
technological impact of their creation.
The three finalists will be invited to the Home of Rolls-Royce
in Goodwood, West Sussex, where they will meet the marque’s master
craftspeople, before completing their creations. The final works will
be unveiled later this year before proceeding on a global tour –
including to Rolls-Royce showrooms – where they will be admired by
art, design and luxury enthusiasts alike.
The Spirit of Ecstasy jury issued a combined statement: “
The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge creates a wonderful platform for
dialogue and the exchange of inspiration and ideas among creators
and visionaries, and offers us ways of deepening and broadening our
realm of understanding of textile-based artistic forms and languages
of expression. We salute Rolls-Royce for the platform they give to
emerging talent and look forward to seeing the works created for the
initiative come to life. It will shine a light on craftsmanship,
which is something that Rolls-Royce champions and demonstrates to
the highest level.”
Alongside the commencement of the Spirit of Ecstasy
Challenge, Rolls-Royce has today unveiled a redesign of the
figurine to grace the bonnet of its new all-electric Spectre.
Originally designed by Charles Sykes in 1911, the Spirit of Ecstasy
figurine has become an instantly recognisable symbol of British
luxury. Her lower, more dynamic stance for Spectre will bring her much
closer to Sykes’ original drawings from the early 20th Century.
To stay up-to-date follow @rollsroycemuse.