The highly distinguished French conceptual artist Bernar Venet was invited by Bugatti to create a one-off artwork to be applied to a Veyron Grand Sport. The car was displayed as part of the Rubell Family Collection in Miami during The Art Basel Show. The final piece has been described by Bugatti as “the fastest artwork ever.”
Venet, who is inspired by logic and equations, wanted to integrate the car’s paintwork with letters and shapes being swept away by the Grand Sport’s colossal speed.
The interior has the same theme, with dashboard panels and leather trim which have also been embellished with similar shapes in a rusted style. The door panels have been nicely trimmed, and as a final touch Venet’s signature has been applied.
Venet said “A Bugatti is already a work of art in itself, one that transports both its beholder and its driver into new dimensions of reality. I realised how I could translate my passion for mathematical equations and scientific treatises into three-dimensional form. My works are usually self-referential. So I found the idea of translating the equations of the Bugatti engineers onto the bodywork of the car very appealing. To me, the result is also exceptional when measured by artistic standards and bestows the object with a mythical character.”
Bugatti say the Grand Sport is “the fastest, most powerful and most luxurious open top car in the world.” The top speed is 252mph from its W16 turbo layout giving 1001bhp. With the roof off, the car is limited to 224 mph.”
Perhaps relieved, Bugatti Chief Designer Achim Anscheidt said, “Venet doubly honors our brand by making reference to the technical formulae of our engineers without fully revealing their secrets.”
