Tag Archives: Museum

Volkswagen

Great resonance: the Yad Vashem exhibition ‘Flashes of Memory’ in Berlin extended – educational partner Volkswagen continues to support visitor formats

In response to the tremendous interest of museum visitors, the exhibition ‘Flashes of Memory. Photography during the Holocaust’ will be extended to January 28, 2024, in the ‘Museum für Fotografie’ in Berlin. The Volkswagen Group will continue to act as an educational partner of the exhibition project, which was originally scheduled to run from March 24 to August 20, 2023. The exhibition in Berlin is on loan from the international remembrance center Yad Vashem and marks the first time that the exhibit has been displayed outside Jerusalem.

As part of its partnership, the Volkswagen Group will help provide educational opportunities to a broad audience for five more months. Volkswagen will continue to support the visitor formats ‘Ask Me!’ and ‘Close up!’. The program ‘Ask Me!’ is available to visitors on Thursday afternoons, Friday afternoons, and weekend afternoons. On these days, guides provide interested visitors with in-depth information about the exhibits and answer questions. The ‘Close Up!’ series will also be extended through the end of the exhibition. During public discussions, experts in such related disciplines as photography and film, history, Holocaust studies, and Jewish studies share their thoughts on the photographs and films on display. Visitors may use both formats free of charge. Since the exhibition opened, a large number of trainees and graduates of training programs at Volkswagen have learned valuable information during tours through the exhibition and in discussions.

‘We are very proud of the decision to extend the exposition of Yad Vashem’s exhibition Flashes of Memory. Photography during the Holocaust now on display at Berlins Museum für Fotografie,’ says Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan. ‘I am filled with profound gratitude for the overwhelming response from visitors. This remarkable showcase stands as a testament to the collective commitment towards preserving the memory of the Holocaust and illuminating the darkest chapters of history.

The significance of this exhibition lies not only in its poignant portrayal of the Holocaust’s harrowing reality but in its unique multilayer perspective. Through the lens of photography, we capture the narratives of the German perpetrator, the Jewish victim, and the liberating armies, intertwining their experiences to form a comprehensive and empathetic portrayal of this tragic era. This mosaic of perspectives serves as a powerful reminder of the human impact, suffering, and resilience amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. The presence of this profound exhibition in the heart of Berlin, a city deeply connected to the Holocaust, sends a resolute signal to the world. It exemplifies how Germany continues to shoulder the responsibility for Holocaust remembrance and awareness. By confronting its past with unyielding courage and preserving historical truth through initiatives like these, Germany sets an exemplar for nations across the globe to foster empathy, tolerance, and vigilance against prejudice and hatred.’

The importance of remembrance culture is also emphasized by Benita von Maltzahn, Head of Volkswagen Culture Engagement: ‘It is extremely important to us that we continuously reiterate together – particularly to the younger generations – how the holocaust came to pass and what fates the countless victims suffered. We do this so that antisemitism, racism, and discrimination can never spread again.’

In the exhibition ‘Flashes of Memory. Photography during the Holocaust’, the Yad Vashem Remembrance Center shows photographs and films that were taken and made of the broadest range of people – perpetrators, victims, and liberators – during the years of the Holocaust. Focal points include the intentions of the photographers and filmmakers as well as the conditions under which the photo documents were made. In the process, the viewing of the images becomes an encounter with their impact.

The partnership for the exhibition is integrated into the comprehensive remembrance work and the Volkswagen Group’s international commitment to culture. For more than 30 years now, the company has been organizing volunteer projects in which trainees support the memorial work in Auschwitz and conduct projects with Holocaust survivors.

Motorsport

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Vs. Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser is here, debuting at the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah. The new LC, known internally as the 250-Series, borrows some of its hard bits from the Lexus GX and Toyota Tacoma, but with a starting price in the mid-$50,000 range, it’ll go toe to toe with the likes of the Land Rover Defender 110, Jeep Wrangler, and Ford Bronco. So how does it stack up against that excellent competitive set?

We’re pitting the 250-Series up against the base-model Land Rover Defender S 110, a nicely equipped Ford Bronco Badlands four-door, and a Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe four-door, all of which can be had for about the same price as the Land Cruiser’s estimated $55k base. As is usually the case, the Land Cruiser is better in some specifications and worse in others. And of course, we’ll have to wait and see how the 250-Series performs in the real world before we can truly name a winner in this newly revitalized off-road SUV segment. But one thing’s for sure, the Bronco, Wrangler, and Defender have some new competition.


BMW

BMW Announces New Long-Term Partnership with the Städel Museum

The BMW Group has announced a new long-term partnership with the Städel Museum, one of Germany’s oldest and most renowned museum foundations. To kick off the collaboration, artist Marc Brandenburg has designed an exclusive BMW iX1. Together, BMW and the Städel Museum invite visitors to experience contemporary art in a unique way through the STÄDEL INVITES event series.

In the past year, BMW and the Städel Museum Frankfurt launched the STÄDEL INVITES format. These events, held in conjunction with exhibitions by selected contemporary artists, aim to make contemporary art more accessible to a wide audience in a relaxed atmosphere. The events include live artist discussions, talks, short tours, and music.

As a highlight of the new partnership, Marc Brandenburg, the museum’s collection artist, has designed a BMW iX1. The vehicle will be unveiled on July 11th in the Städel Garden. Brandenburg will explain how he incorporated the elements of time, space, and speed from his artwork into the car design. The Städel Museum will also exhibit Brandenburg’s drawings and video work from October 28, 2021, to January 30, 2022, in the exhibition “Hirnsturm II.”

“We are excited to expand our cultural engagement through a new partnership with the Städel Museum,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG. The design of the BMW iX1 by Marc Brandenburg signifies the beginning of a long-term collaboration that will offer many inspiring encounters with artists through the STÄDEL INVITES format.

Philipp Demandt, director of the Städel Museum, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and the BMW iX1 designed by Marc Brandenburg. He highlighted the shared aspiration of the Städel Museum and BMW to inspire quality and people. Together, they aim to venture off the beaten path and explore new possibilities, including joint event series and a film series featuring contemporary artists presenting their works in relation to the Städel collection.

The STÄDEL INVITES series started in October 2022 with artist Michael Müller and will continue with exhibits by Philipp Fürhofer and Miron Schmückle. The series offers an opportunity for visitors to gain insights into the artists’ works and practices, as well as their connections to the Städel collection. The respective artists will also share their ideas and creative processes in the video series “Was bewegt (…)?”

About Marc Brandenburg:
Marc Brandenburg, born in Berlin in 1965, is an artist who primarily focuses on drawing. He spent his childhood in the USA and returned to West Berlin in 1977. Brandenburg has been part of the Berlin club scene, worked in fashion design, and eventually dedicated himself to fine art in the late 1990s.

BMW Group has a strong presence in the fine art arena. The company supports leading museums, art fairs, and platforms worldwide, including Art Basel, Frieze art fair, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, and Gallery Weekend Berlin. In Germany, BMW has a long-standing partnership with the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig (MdbK), and also supports the Premio BMW de Pintura in Spain, the Berlin National Gallery prize, and the Academy of Fine Arts Munich.

BMW iX1 xDrive30: power consumption combined in kWh/100km: – (NEFZ), 18,4 – 17,3 (WLTP)*; CO2-Emissions: 0 g/km (NEFZ), 0 g/km (WLTP)*, Electric range (WLTP)* in km: 413 – 438.  * All figures are preliminary values.

BMW

Internationally renowned artist Julie Mehretu to create 20th BMW Art Car

BMW has announced a collaboration with artist Julie Mehretu to create the 20th BMW Art Car. The announcement was made at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Mehretu, chosen by an international jury of museum directors and curators, will have total creative freedom to design the next addition to BMW’s collection of “rolling sculptures.” The BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car, designed by Mehretu, will be entered into the 24 Hour race of Le Mans in June 2024. This tradition, which has been ongoing for almost 50 years, has brought together racing and art, appealing to fans of both and those interested in design, technology, and mobility. Previously, artists such as Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, Cao Fei, and John Baldessari have created BMW Art Cars since 1975.

Julie Mehretu expressed her excitement about the project, stating that she has had a love for cars throughout her life and is thrilled to be working on the next BMW Art Car. She sees the opportunity to invent and explore new realms of transportation and motorsports through hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, highlighted the importance of the BMW Art Car Collection as a central element of BMW’s cultural commitment. He expressed admiration for Julie Mehretu’s work and the cultural impact that the collaboration will have, particularly in Africa.

An artistic concept beyond the car: Translocal Media Workshop Series in 2025

The collaboration between BMW and Julie Mehretu extends beyond the Le Mans racetrack. Mehretu and Mehret Mandefro, co-founder of the Realness Institute, will host a series of workshops in eight African cities over nine months. The aim is to create a space for artists to meet, exchange ideas, and collaborate in translocal ways. The workshops will provide opportunities for artists to consider new pathways for civic futures in their local communities and harness the power of collective collaboration. The outcomes of the workshops will be presented alongside the 20th BMW Art Car at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town in 2025.

The artist: Julie Mehretu

Julie Mehretu, an internationally renowned artist, was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and currently runs a studio in New York. She has received numerous awards for her work and is known for her dynamic visual articulation of contemporary experience. Her paintings, prints, and drawings delve into the intersection of history, social behavior, and space. Mehretu’s work has been exhibited at prestigious museums around the world, including LACMA, the High Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Walker Museum of Art. In 2021, she became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Design.

Statements of the jury: Unanimous selection

The international jury responsible for selecting Julie Mehretu for the 20th BMW Art Car unanimously chose her based on her exceptional reputation and expertise in the art world. Members of the jury include prominent figures such as directors and curators from major museums and galleries. They praised Mehretu’s ability to capture movement, dynamism, and space in her work, making her the perfect artist to create a BMW Art Car that merges speed, technology, and artistic vision.

The BMW M Hybrid V8

The canvas for the 20th BMW Art Car is the BMW M Hybrid V8. This competition car features a hybrid drive system with approximately 640 horsepower, combining a 4.0-liter V8 engine with an electric motor. The car can reach a maximum speed of up to 345 kph (215 mph) depending on the track layout. Weighing only 1,030 kilograms, the BMW M Hybrid V8 represents the epitome of M performance and the fascination with electrified drives. It competes in the GTP class of the North American IMSA endurance racing series and will also participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The BMW Art Car Collection

The BMW Art Car Collection started in 1975 when French racing driver Hervé Poulain asked his artist friend Alexander Calder to paint a BMW automobile. Since then, renowned artists from around the world, including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Jeff Koons, have added their own touch to BMW Art Cars. The collection has been exhibited globally and resides at the BMW Museum in Munich. The collaboration with Julie Mehretu continues the tradition of combining art and racing, showcasing unique and visually striking designs on BMW vehicles.