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Midrand/Mpumalanga - 26 years ago, Esther Mahlangu, a South African Ndebele artist, was the first woman to create artwork on a BMW 525i Sedan turning it into a unique and colourful BMW Art Car.
In 2016, Esther was once again commissioned by the BMW Group to refine a BMW 7 Series.
The vehicle was on display at the Frieze Art Fair which took place in London in 2016. Simultaneously, the original BMW 525i Art Car was part of the exhibition "South Africa: the art of a nation" at the British Museum, functioning as a significant piece and highlighting Esher Mahlangu's key role in South African art.
READ: Amazing SA Art Car - Mahlangu’s classic BMW Isetta
BWW Group South Africa is now the proud owner of Esther's specially commissioned BMW panels painted in Ndebele art which have been installed into a new BMW 750Li Individual.
Heritage Collection
The vehicle will form part of BMW Group South Africa's Heritage Collection and will be utilised as a display vehicle at various Arts & Cultural events with the blessing of Esther Mahlangu in order to preserve her cultural heritage for the people of South Africa.
Image: Quickpic
Mahlangu said: "I am so glad that BMW brought my art back to South Africa, it is a beautiful car to be shared with the people of South Africa for many years to come.
"The patterns I have used on the BMW panels marry tradition to the essence of BMW. When BMW sent me the panels to paint, I could see the design in my head and I just wanted to get started! I started by painting the small ones first to get the feel of the surface and then it was easy as the design follows the lines of the panels," she adds.
Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, is proud that Esther's work will now be preserved in her home country. He s aid: "We are delighted to share Esther's legacy with the people of South Africa. Esther embraces her traditional heritage passionately and has dedicated her entire life to the development and promotion of Ndebele art".
The automaker says the BMW Individual 7 Series by Esther Mahlangu is a right-hand drive vehicle, boasting an array of equipment from the comprehensive BMW Individual Collection in addition to the unique features incorporated by the BMW Individual Manufaktur.
The 20" light alloy wheels in w-spoke styling underscore the elegant appearance of the BMW 7 Series while the exterior bodywork is coated in BMW Individual Aventurine Red Metallic.
Interior highlights
The interior features BMW Individual full fine-grain Merino leather in Smoke White/Black, the highest quality leather available for a BMW, including seats with weave-look stitching and hand-woven piping, claims the automaker.
Image: Quickpic
A BMW Individual leather steering wheel with applications in Piano finish Black and an Alcantara headliner in Smoke White complete the exclusive ambience of the interior.
The BMW 750Li is powered by a high-performance BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol engine, 330kW (combined fuel consumption: 8.0 litres/100km; combined CO2 emissions: 187 g/km) and a powerful maximum torque of 650Nm.
The dynamic sedan sprints from 0 to100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds; top speed is limited to 250km/h, says BMW SA. It features an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and has the lowest vehicle weight in its segment.
For Esther Mahlangu, art is created from tradition.
Esther Mahlangu was born a member of the Ndebele tribe in 1935 in Middelburg, a small town in the north-eastern province of Mpumalanga. At the early age of 10, she began to paint under the guidance of her mother and grandmother.
Traditionally, Ndebele women decorate the exterior walls of houses with elaborately painted patterns and graphic elements, symbolising important events such as weddings or other celebrations, thus the walls are used as active communicative media within the community.
Esther Mahlangu has separated these decorations and patterns from her people's traditional art of painting. In the form of pictures, vessels or carpets, she has constantly brought it into new contexts, thereby combining her artwork with items used in everyday life.
