 There
has always been much futuristic speculation concerning the fate of automobile
design. Most of this speculation has been carefully orchestrated
by the huge automotive companies. Designers from these establishments have
drawn their visions in their sketch books and models. Next these designs
are altered to accommodate government standards and to provide for a greater
profit margin. Finally the large companies have sold them to
the an American public which has always been forced to select from a limited
number of design philosophies and accompanying constructs of popular
culture . The notion that American automotive design has been reflective of the American people's choices is utter nonsense. Cars have never been designed from the individual up. Car companies have inflicted their automotive cultures from the top down. In so doing they have limited and suppressed the creativity and individuality of the American public. We have been trapped within epochs of car design which have been arbitrarily changed as fast as cars have worn out -approximately once each decade. While it is true that companies like BMW have featured and exhibited artcars commissioned from famous artists these cars are for exhibit only and not part of the ordinary inventory. The evolution of the artcar in the last decade of the 20th century and its great popularity with the American public is a now turning point in popular automotive design founded upon individual self-expression and freedom. which is here to stay. Artcars represent automotive design which begins with the root of individual creativity and vision. This is design from the bottom up rather than an imposition from the major corporation or the market place. . Most artcars are designed and built by their drivers and owners themselves. Even when artcars are commissioned they are done in response to a patron's wishes. The concept of artcar frees the artist and the design from mass production. The artcar owner/artist is encouraged to exercise freedom of expression to break out of the restrictions imposed by corporate America. The artcar is in perfect harmony with American freedoms and aspirations. You do not listen to the ground for direction but rather as artcar artist you proclaim your expression for all others to hear and for them to tolerate. The Artcar does not need to be totally at odds with mass produced automobiles - it can improve upon them. Corporate designers and artists are not always free to develop their own visions and designs. There are simply too many restrictions in the way. Their work can only be a beginning. Many many restrictions derived from the necessity to make money are inflicted upon the mass producer. The artcar artist is not so restricted. A wonderful beginning made by a corporate designer can become a blank canvas which can be expanded and highlighted. In my case a wonderful and wild design - that of the 1966 Pontiac Catalina was given the added energy. Its drab and plain paint job was made more exciting and colorful thus allowing the design to live as never before. It now has the drama the original lacked. A limited design can now flower. It is important for the future of the artcar to ensure that artcar designs remain free and individual. Competitions should take this into account. I personally do not believe that competitions are healthy for the artcar. How can one compete with a work which should be totally individual? Why please a judge with a personal agenda? Surely that is what we are evolving from! The danger in competitions is that they will encourage stylistic uniformity and stagnation. Already we are seeing artcar styles develop. If the artcar is to be truly independent original and personal it must not cater to mass appeal. We should not see strict styles emerge. I understand the interest in competition and its rewards however, with artcars all cars should be rewarded - they are all grand and wonderful. I would encourage competitions to simply provide a stage-a venue and if there is to be a prize it should be awarded equally to all who have the vision to design, create and turn up or, perhaps for a feat that one could do with one's car. Perhaps there can be found a way to avoid design based awards. The artcar has an amazing potential. This potential lies in its individuality - the personal expression and the freedom involved in its creation and presentation. As America moves
into the next century design which more truly reflects the creativity and
expression of the American public will finally become a reality as artcar
artists design and build from the bottom up-as they live their freedoms
more fully. What do you think? Send us e.mail click here -Conrad Bladey ©1999,2012. |