The Autohub Group has joined forces with Cloud Grey Gallery to bring a one-of-a-kind art exhibition to the Manila scene: Heralding the famed MINI as a work of art, both literally and figuratively.
Focusing on the iconic MINI brand, the exhibition delves into the marque’s historical significance, its groundbreaking design elements, and its enduring cultural relevance.
Opening its doors last Monday, 25 September, the event was staged at the MINI BGC Showroom.
Ronald Ventura, a luminary in Asian art circles, has created limited-edition prints exclusively for the event. Other artists from Cloud Grey, namely Ronson Culibrina, Keb Cerda, Olan Ventura, Manok Ventura, and Igan D’Bayan, are contributing MINI-themed paintings and reimagined MINI model cars.
Reflecting their own unique artistic styles, the works on display are available for purchase.
The ensemble of artworks has been curated by Ruel Caasi, adding another layer of expertise to the collection.
Ventura, whose body of work has recently been showcased at the Karuizawa New Art Museum in Japan — and is slated for a subsequent display in Singapore — joins the other artists in this event, who have also enjoyed recent exhibitions both in the Philippines and overseas.
Ventura and his Cloud Grey contemporaries have elected to use the MINI brand either as a focal point or as an inspiration for broader artistic exploration. Employing a mix of styles and techniques, they have offered homage to this emblematic vehicle.
Notably, the artists have also worked on model cars crafted from resin, presenting them as unconventional canvases. This unusual choice underlines the concept that art can be both mobile and accessible, seamlessly weaving in and out of daily life.
The term “rolling masterpieces” aptly encapsulates the spirit of the event. Through this collaboration, both the Autohub Group and Cloud Grey Gallery aim to celebrate not just the MINI’s storied history, but also its intersection with contemporary art.
While the vehicle itself has been a paragon of design since its inception, this venture extends its influence into the art world, making for an intriguing merger of artistic and automotive craftsmanship.
This collaboration was unveiled amid celebrations of MINI’s 64th anniversary, held at the same MINI BGC showroom. The event also saw the launch of two new vehicles — the MINI Convertible Seaside Edition and the MINI Clubman Untold Edition — adding fuel to an already fiery brand enthusiasm.
It’s worth noting that the MINI brand has been long associated with breaking norms and setting trends, its design serving as an archetype in automotive innovation. Yet, this exhibition offers a fresh perspective, transforming the MINI from mere transportation to a mobile art form.
For aficionados of both art and automotives, this unique exhibition stands as an opportunity to explore these seemingly disparate worlds and their unexpected synchronicities.
