The familiar and enduring personality of Rolls-Royce, the Spirit of Ecstasy is one hundred years old this year. This ‘Flying Lady’ is unmistakable as the symbol of the marque and all it stands for. Enigmatic as the superlative cars she represents, she is still feminine and ageless. To celebrate this magnificent centenarian, Rolls-Royce Motors Cars has chosen an equally-renowned British figure, the photographer Rankin, to commemorate the occasion. His brief is to capture the essence of this inspirational spirit in one hundred contemporary visual pieces of art.
Rankin is an artist like no other, just as the cars of Rolls-Royce are peerless. Whilst he is considered no stranger to controversy and comfortable to ignite debate with his work, the superb vehicles produced by the marque stand alone in their levels of harmonious design and in how they exceed the customers’ expectations. What they share is an exquisite eye for finesse, craftsmanship and detail. He is regarded as someone who questions established notions of beauty. Nevertheless, he is equally accepted as one of the world’s top photographers, as Rolls-Royce cars are recognised universally as the pinnacle of motoring. Dynamic and innovative both, they lead their art.
He has captured the images of personages such as Mikhail Gorbachev and Her Majesty the Queen, as well as U2 and the Rolling Stones. No doubt they have all travelled in a Rolls-Royce at some time.
The portfolio of Rankin contains creative portraits of his subjects capturing their character and spirit, in the most magnetic of ways. He does so in a way that breaks with convention. In keeping with this, some of the most recent releases from Rolls-Royce, like the Phantom and Phantom Drophead, are equally ‘out of the mould’.
The one hundred images are contemporary photographs of the female form. Each one is designed to represent a theme associated with the Spirit of Ecstasy. Rankin sees these as including eternal beauty, power, grace, and effortless speed. He further describes being inspired by the form, materials, and textures used to replicate this nymph. Indeed, he recognises that much mystique and intrigue surround her, and this is reflected in the photographic works of art.
The pictures will be available online throughout the year, evolving as the project progresses, so aficionados would do well to follow. Those who attend the celebratory events commemorating the centennial of the Spirit of Ecstasy will also be able to view them. This is certainly a space worth watching, along with our flag ship Rolls Royce Ghost.