Ligier’s 50 years Art Car by Nairone Defives wins the 2020 Art Grand Prix
- Ligier's 50 years Art Car in collaboration with French artist Nairone Defives
- An unprecedented live performance in 24 hours during the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans
- 2020 Art Grand Prix of the Festival Automobile International
Tuesday 28 January 2020, at the Festival Automobile International in Paris : The Art Car of Ligier's 50 years designed by French artist won the 2020 Art Grand Prix, a prize that rewards both the design of the Art Car and an unprecedented artistic performance. The artist had only 24 hours, at the same time as the iconic race of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to create this Art Car in live in front of the public.
24 hours and not one more. This is the number of hours French artist Nairone Defives had to design the Art Car of the French motor sport make's 50 years. It was a race against time that took place at the same time as the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. On Saturday 15 June 2019 at 3 pm the artist started to paint with his black brush the carbon of the Ligier JS P4 which had been painted in white for the occasion. 4,6 metres long and 2,8 metres wide for 920 kg. Nairone finished on Sunday 16 June 2019 at the same time.
Another challenge for the artist: The Art Car was created not inside an artist studio but at the heart of the 24 Hours Village, between the endurance afficionados. Around 250 000 spectators were able to watch Nairone Defives design this Art Car.
The artist had carte blanche to reinterpret some of the iconic elements of the tricolor make: the beautiful dancer, the muse of Ligier's F1 era, the 26, the festish number of Jacques Laffite, Magny-Cours and the chequered flag.
“This anniversary Art Car was such an adventure”, exclaimed Jacques Nicolet, President of Ligier Automotive. “Seeing Nairone prepare “his canvas” during the tests and then paint the car in front of all the public during 24 hours non-stop was incredible! It wasn't an easy challenge! Nairone took up the challenge and successfully mixed the symbols of the make to his creative universe. The black and white contrast is striking. The Art Grand Prix is a great reward for the make and Nairone!”
“With this project I wanted to participate to the 24 Hours of Le Mans my way”, shared Nairone Defives. It was a real challenge and a true human and artistic experience to create this Art Car live in front of the public. This prize makes me feel like I won my own race, in which the other competitors were my mind and my body.”
The car is on display at the Festival Automobile International until 2 February 2020.
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Photo Credit : Maggie Vautrin