Racing Cars - The Art Dimension

ARoS is breaking new ground and adding to the list of unusual visitor experiences with the exhibition RACING CARS - The Art Dimension, which opens on 13 October and will be the art museum's major autumn initiative.

The exhibition will be nothing less than a world premiere of a unique encounter between art and thoroughbred racing cars when ARoS presents Formula 1 and Le Mans racing cars in a large-scale, artistic total installation created by one of Denmark's most important installation artists, Ingvar Cronhammar. This means that museum visitors can expect an unusual total experience in the exhibition, which covers a total of 1400 square metres in the museum's special exhibition gallery and special exhibition foyer.

In a transgressive staging, visitors are led into a unique universe. The walls are painted black, the gallery columns are transformed into red metallic pistons and the light sources are shaped like giant piston rings.

The racing cars are presented on steel podiums in an installation of light and moving images - as well as sound, because the many visual impressions are supported by a soundscape that adds an extra dimension to the exhibition experience. The soundscape was composed especially for the exhibition by composer and experimental musician Martin Hall.

RACING CARS - The Art Dimension emphasises the importance of giving the audience an experience of the dynamics and strength of the cars' design language. By considering racing cars not only as functional, but also as pure form - as sculpture on wheels - the exhibition unites two very different worlds: that of ultimate motorsport and that of art.

The exhibition presents design history highlights in Formula 1 and Le Mans, from 1932 through almost three quarters of a century. The racing cars on display are unique in their design, but they are also characterised by having been in active service on motorsport circuits around the world with legendary drivers such as Stirling Moss, Ronni Petersson and Jackie Stewart behind the wheel.

Extensive "archaeological" work and meetings across most of Europe have resulted in the ultimate selection of "racing sculptures" coming to Denmark, where Ingvar Cronhammar, probably the most famous installation artist in the country, has been planning the entire installation for more than a year now in close collaboration with ARoS Aarhus Art Museum.

It is very multifaceted and technically demanding to get everything in place and DFDS works closely with one of the major suppliers of racing cars, Tom Wheatcroft's Donington Grand Prix Collection, which ships treasures worth millions of pounds from its museum at Donington racetrack near Derby in England. Racing and sailing are organised in close collaboration between these partners and ARoS Aarhus Art Museum.

In addition, Audi, Shell and Castrol have assisted ARoS in providing racers for the exhibition.

At Ingvar Cronhammar's request, the entire construction of the installation requires a large consumption of aluminium, which ARoS Aarhus Art Museum has been able to achieve through close collaboration with Denmark's largest metal import company Lemvigh-Müller, which through its foundation has generously made it possible to fulfil the artistic ambitions.

With both light and sound as well as presentations, this will be a groundbreaking experience that will resonate throughout the art and automotive world.

The exhibition is under the official patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim.

C.A.C. Fonden

Ole Kirk's Fond

Montana