I’ve loved the idea of guns on a car ever since Q handed over the keys of the tricked out Aston Martin to Bond. The idea doesn’t work so well if they are aimed at the drivers’ face though, but why quibble over practicalities? Joana Vasconcelos’ fun if slightly unsettling Morris Oxford certainly has the firepower if not quite the style of the Goldfinger ride. The sculpture, called War Games, is filled with soft toys which constantly squirm and squeak, and is just one installation from her forthcoming exhibition of site specific works at the Manchester Art Gallery.
Another eye-catching piece of motor modification from the Time Machine show comes in the form of Lilicoptère, which started life as a standard Bell 47 helicopter but now flies around in drag, covered in pink ostrich feathers and Swarovski crystal. For the Full Steam Ahead series, Vasconcelos has created three flower-like kinetic sculptures made from steam irons, whose petals open and close mimicking real flowers, coloured red, yellow and green to represent the Portuguese flag. As well as these past works, the artist has been commissioned to create a new piece especially for the gallery – a large scale textile work which will fill the venue’s glass atrium during the exhibition, being held from 15 February to 1 June.
Lilicoptère, 2012
Courtesy Haunch of Venison/Christie’s, London
Work produced in collaboration with
Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva, Lisbon
Photo: Luís Vasconcelos/Courtesy Unidade Infinita Projectos
Château de Versailles
Surf, 2013
Collection of the artist
Photo: © Unidade Infinita Projectos
Lilicoptère, 2012
Courtesy Haunch of Venison/Christie’s, London
Work produced in collaboration with
Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva, Lisbon
Photo: Luís Vasconcelos/Courtesy Unidade Infinita Projectos
Château de Versailles
Full Steam Ahead (Red #1), 2012
Collection of the artist
Work produced with the support of
Robert Bosch Hausgeräte GmbH
Photo: Peter Mallet
Courtesy Haunch of Venison
Big Booby #2, 2011
Collection of the artist
Photo: © Unidade Infinita Projectos
100% silk scarf
Courtesy Unidade Infinita Projectos
