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BMW Celebrates Esther Mahlangu's Artistic Legacy At Frieze London 2024 With New Mural And Exhibitions
Actor and Talk Art podcast co-host Russell Tovey is showcasing his private art collection at the BMW Lounge, inspired by the work of artist Esther Mahlangu. Frieze Music, in collaboration with BMW, will feature a performance by Indie-Pop singer Arlo Parks at KOKO Club. From October 9 to 13, Frieze London and Frieze Masters will return to Regent’s Park in London.
BMW, a long-term partner of Frieze since 2004, will honour Esther Mahlangu's artistic contributions. Mahlangu was the first woman to create a BMW Art Car in 1991. Together with Serpentine, BMW will unveil "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu," a new mural by Mahlangu at Serpentine North's garden. This mural celebrates cultural exchange and community.
Esther Mahlangu, born in 1935 in South Africa, has been creating large-scale works for over eight decades. She learned traditional Ndebele painting techniques from her family at age ten. Her art involves using natural pigments on structures in her village and acrylics on canvas for varied scales and colours.
In 1991, Mahlangu designed the 12th BMW Art Car based on a BMW 525i. This marked her as the first African artist and woman to do so. Her work began a lasting relationship with BMW, inspiring future collaborations with artists like Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol.
At Frieze London, Russell Tovey will present artworks from his private collection in response to Mahlangu's pieces. He selected works by female, queer, and artists of colour to complement Mahlangu’s creations. Tovey’s collection includes pieces by Etel Adnan and Carmen Herrera.
Tovey expressed admiration for Mahlangu’s geometric art: "Esther’s geometric work inspires me deeply... To live with these works has felt calming." His curated selection aims to engage viewers in dialogue with Mahlangu’s art.
Frieze Music and Cultural Engagement
Continuing their collaboration, BMW and Frieze will host Frieze Music in London. On October 10, Arlo Parks will perform at KOKO Theatre in Camden. Parks’ recent album "My Soft Machine" was among Rolling Stone’s top albums of 2023.
Frieze Music explores music-art intersections through performances that inspire dialogue among artists. Launched during Frieze Los Angeles in 2019, it has featured musicians like Moses Sumney and Caroline Polachek.
Book Launch: "To Paint is in My Heart"
During Frieze week, the first interview publication with Esther Mahlangu titled "Esther Mahlangu: To Paint is in My Heart" will be launched. Co-edited by Azu Nwagbogu and Hans Ulrich Obrist, this book delves into Mahlangu's life through interviews with curators and insights from fashion designer Thebe Magugu.
On October 9, Obrist, Nwagbogu, and Thomas Girst will discuss their collaboration for the book at the BMW Lounge. Copies of the book will be available for purchase on-site during this event.
Mahlangu's Global Recognition
This year marks a significant milestone in Esther Mahlangu’s career. Besides activities during Frieze London, her retrospective exhibition "Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting" is touring globally. It opened at Iziko Museums of South Africa in February 2024.
The exhibition highlights over five decades of her work as a contemporary artist who gained international acclaim. Her iconic BMW Art Car returned to South Africa after more than three decades as part of this showcase.
Mahlangu's works also featured in the Venice Biennale main exhibition "Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere." Additionally, her collaboration with BMW premiered at Frieze L.A., featuring the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA with her artistic touch.
The events at Frieze London celebrate Esther Mahlangu’s enduring impact on art and culture worldwide while fostering meaningful exchanges between diverse artistic communities.
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