BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA: Where Art Meets Innovation

Welcome to a world where art meets engineering, where colors dance on wheels and innovation takes the wheel. At this year’s Frieze Los Angeles art fair, BMW Group dropped jaws with a masterpiece born from the collaboration between technology and the artistic flair of South African luminary, Esther Mahlangu.

Behold the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, a vehicular ode to Mahlangu’s creative genius. It’s not just a car; it’s a canvas on wheels, adorned with shimmering, color-shifting patterns that pay homage to Mahlangu’s iconic 1991 BMW Art Car. Picture this: electronically-animated film, courtesy of E Ink, draped over the car’s body and wheels, pulsating with Mahlangu’s vibrant geometries. It’s a modern twist on a classic, a fusion of tradition and innovation that leaves spectators spellbound.

But how does this technicolor marvel come to life? Enter E Ink, the wizard behind the curtain. With millions of microcapsules embedded in each film strip, the car becomes a living, breathing artwork. These capsules, fueled by electric voltage, morph and swirl, bringing Mahlangu’s vision to life in a mesmerizing dance of hues.

For Mahlangu, seeing her art leap from canvas to car is a surreal journey. “It is fascinating to me to see how modern technology can expand my art and make it accessible to a completely new audience,” she muses, as her legacy rides the crest of innovation.

But the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA isn’t just eye candy—it’s a multisensory experience. Renzo Vitale, BMW Group’s Creative Director of Sound, weaves a sonic tapestry inspired by South African culture, incorporating Mahlangu’s voice and the rhythmic swish of her painting brushes. It’s a symphony of heritage and cutting-edge design, where every note resonates with the spirit of innovation.

And innovation, it seems, knows no bounds. BMW’s color-changing technology has come a long way since its inception, evolving from monochrome marvels to a kaleidoscope of hues. With the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, the possibilities are endless. Yet, for now, this masterpiece remains a singular sensation—a testament to the marriage of art and technology, where the lines between the two blur into obscurity.

As Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, puts it, “The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA honors the history of the BMW brand and continues the story of our global cultural engagement in a unique way. It combines art and design through progressive technology. Here, technology itself becomes art.” And in this symbiotic relationship between creator and creation, the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA emerges as not just a car, but a canvas—an ever-evolving testament to the boundless possibilities of human imagination.