The BMW Group presents the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, a vehicle that fuses BMW’s color-change technology with the artistic vision of Esther Mahlangu, in a groundbreaking collaboration between art and innovation at Frieze Los Angeles.
The unique creation features electronically animated sections of the attached film, showcasing the latest development in color change technology for vehicle surfaces, developed in partnership with E Ink. The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, unveiled at the fair on February, pays homage to Mahlangu’s historic 1991 BMW Art Car and continues BMW’s cultural commitment. Mahlangu was the first woman and the first African artist to design a BMW Art Car. She sees the collaboration as a surreal realization of her art, inspiring modern technology and bringing her work to a new audience.
The BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, named after Mahlangu’s son, features electronically animated film segments throughout the vehicle, which can change colors and patterns reminiscent of Mahlangu’s art. Renzo Vitale, BMW Group’s Creative Director, Sound, composed a unique soundtrack for the car, blending elements of Mahlangu’s voice and the sounds of her painting tools with BMW brand sounds.
With 1,349 individually controlled film sections, the car accurately reproduces Mahlangu’s intricate ornamentation using advanced laser cutting and electronic control technology developed in collaboration with E Ink. This represents a significant advancement in color change technology, building on previous models such as the BMW iX Flow and BMW i Vision Dee, and paving the way for future developments.
All photography courtesy of BMW GROUP
