VIrgil Abloh and Mercedes-Benz have announced an art collaboration that unifies art, fashion and automotive worlds.
Abloh and the luxury carmaker revealed the project on Monday. They are are creating a “unique artwork” from the G-Class SUV, which hit its 40th anniversary mark last year.
Titled as ‘Project Geländewagen,’ it sees the designer work with carmaker’s Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener, in support of the creative industries during the current global climate.
The replica of the artwork will be auctioned off after its launch and the proceeds will be donated to an unnamed charity that supports the arts. The winner of the model auction will also receive exclusive access to the co-creators, and a personal introduction to the inspirations behind the artwork and the aspirations for it.”
“Mercedes-Benz is a brand that stands for luxury and exceptional performance,” said Abloh. “Truly a perfect chassis to interject modern artists’ ideas of what the future can be stylistically, within conceptual car design.”
In a statement, Mercedes-Benz AG’s VP of Marketing Bettina Fetzer said: “Teaming up with Virgil Abloh, one of the most influential and inspiring creatives of our time, represents Mercedes-Benz’s idea of Zeitgeist, co-creation, and contemporary luxury—for both our products and our brand,” Fetzer said. “By launching Project Geländewagen now, we hope to inspire collaboration and creativity in our global audience.”