Industry and art meet in "Fantastic Machinery"

“Fantastic Machinery” exhibition presents 53 works by 10 artists from the Renault Art Collection.

The “Fantastic Machinery” exhibition, a special selection from Renault’s world famous art collectionis opened to visit at Istanbul Modern. Curated by Ann Hindry, historian and art critic, the exhibition features works by world renowned artists such asRobert Rauschenberg, Jean Dubuffet, Arman, Robert Doisneau, and forges closer ties between art and the industrial world .

Following the shows in Tokyo, Mexico City, Sao Paolo and Moscow, the exhibition will be on view in Istanbul between April 18th – June 16th.

“Fantastic Machinery” exhibition that features a selection from Renault Art Collection has been opened to visit at Istanbul Modern’s pop-up exhibition area. “Fantastic Machinery” intends to show how the industrial world and modern production, especially that of the ultimate 20th century object which is the car, has triggered the imagination and nurtured the talent of some of its greatest artists at different times and in diverse circumstances. Curated by Ann Hindry, the exhibition showcases a selection of 53 works by 10 artists from the Renault Art Collection featuring works from diverse disciplines such as painting, sculpture, installation, and photography, and will be open to visit until June 16, 2013.

“Fantastic Machinery” exhibition presents an opportunity for a young artists from Turkey to join Renault Art Collection. The selected artist whose artistic point of view and project is compatible with Renault Art Collection will be supported by Renault and his/her work will be included in the collection.

Renault began collaborating with contemporary artists in 1967 with the aim of forging closer ties between art and the industrial world. It provided artists the opportunity to explore the fields of industry and innovation and supported them both in terms of technical and technological resources and financially for their production. Thanks to these historic partnerships, Renault’s art collection grew with the company. Continuing until 1985, then starting again in 2011, this partnership resulted in over 300 artworks that forged closer ties between two hitherto distant concepts of “art” and “industry”.

Fantastic Machinery includes a selection of 53 examples from the works of artists such as Arman, Robert Doisneau, Jean Dubuffet, Robert Frank, Frank Horvat, Jean-Luc Moulène, Robert Rauschenberg, Marc Riboud, Takis and Jean Tinguely .The result is an exhibition that feels both like a ride through a fantasy world and an unusual reminder of how art came to include life in the course of the 20th century.

The cooperation between Renault, an industry giant in a country in the throes of sweeping change, and innovative artists started with Arman. Arman, whoseworks are based on daily life objects, brought together automobile parts and turned them into artistic images. Jean Dubuffet created with industrial materials a fantasy world of chaotic paintings that was the opposite of industrial organization. Takis used industrial items to explore the physical world’s invisible forces.Jean Tinguely put together poetic machines whose mad and useless characteristics were antithetic to those of the perfect automobile. Robert Rauschenberg included the industrial plant in his heterogeneous imagery of life on canvas; whereas, Frank Horvat transformed a commissioned reportage on a specific car into oniric and pristine images. Robert Frank used it to continue showing the unknown side of rural America in the 1950s. On the other hand, Marc Riboud managed to render, with humour and a tender attention to the people, the essence of British city life in the same period. Jean-Luc Moulène produced his two latest monumental sculptures in 2011 in collaboration with Renault’s top engineers. And Robert Doisneau, before them all in the 30’s, shot photographs of the factory, people and machinery and contributed Renault’s image with advertorial photographs.

Renault Art Collection has been exhibited at world’s largest museums such as Sompo Museum of Art (Tokyo), Museo Tamayo (Mexico City)Museu Oscar Niemeyer (Curitiba), Museu de Arte Contemporanea (Sao Paulo), Art Pur Foundation (Riyadh), New Manege Gallery (Moscow) and Ramat Gam Museum (Tel Aviv), and visited by hundreds of thousands of art enthusiasts.

The press conference of “Fantastic Machinery” exhibition was attended by Mr. Ibrahim Aybar, Renault General Manager, and Mrs. Ann Hindry, curator of the exhibition.

“Renault embraced art corporately”

Ibrahim Aybar, Renault MAIS General Manager, stated that during the 1960s, when industry was much less developed, Renault adopted a production style beyond its era. “Renault, as an industrial body, did not limit itself solely with production, and provided special support to art and artists”, he remarked. Highlighting that this support has been established on an unusual approach, he added“Renault chose a path that is totally different from conventional corporate sponsorship. Instead of purchasing completed art works, the company preferred to establish a partnership between art and pioneering production; and achieved this in a short time. In short, Renault embraced art corporately.Renault Modern Art Collection contributes to the brand’s history and plays an exemplary and federating role in this context. It continues to contribute to the company’s image and fame both in France and all around the world.”

Cooperation between Renault and Artists …

Ann Hindry, Head-Curator of Renault Art Collection, stated that Renault Art Collection improved rapidly during the recent years. Hindry said:“The collection, being innovative when compared to its time and consisting of distinctive works is still unique, even today”.Hindry, “Renault, as an innovative brand with numerous ‘firsts’ within the automotive industry proves its courageous approach also in art. Renault is continuously moving forward and it always has the courage to enter new fields. Renault has proven this by opening its doors to contemporary art in France in a manner never seen before.Today, it opens its doors to the entire world as a part of this approach. Fantastic Machinery exhibition is a glorious part of the company’s vast heritage”.

A Turkish artist to be included to the collection

Ann Hindry also announced that a Turkish artist will join “Renault Art Collection” consisting of world famous international artists. Hindry, “Renault’s Fantastic Machinery exhibition at Istanbul Modern is going to give an opportunity for an artist from Turkey, as well. An artist will be commissioned for a project within the framework of world industry and the Renault collection. We will sponsor the artist during the production phase of the work. This artist’s work will be included in the Renault Art Collection when the project is completed”.