Rafael Lozano-Hemmer Creates Immersive BMW Installation for Art Basel Basel

Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is developing an immersive light and sound installation for BMW, to be presented at Art Basel in Basel this year. The project draws inspiration from the all-electric BMW i7, emphasizing a human-centric technological approach. Superblue's Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst and BMW's Hedwig Solis Weinstein are key collaborators, describing the partnership as uniquely engaged and co-creative. Lozano-Hemmer, who likens his role to that of a theatre director, has a three-decade practice built on interdisciplinary collaboration with scientists, engineers, programmers, architects, and composers. Initial discussions involved BMW engineers and designers, particularly those focused on lighting, with the artist noting shared interests in immersion and intuitive interfaces despite differing priorities like safety. The collaboration is informed by historical precedents, including Robert Rauschenberg's work with BMW and his 1960s Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) initiative. Specific artistic influences cited include Jean Dupuy's 1968 heartbeat-activated piece "Heart Beats Dust" and pioneering work from the 1970s by artists like Jack Goldstein, Juan Downey, Teresa Burga, and Pauline Oliveros. Lozano-Hemmer views the current moment as rich for light art, building on foundations laid by artists such as James Turrell. The installation is expected to be presented repeatedly beyond its Art Basel debut.