Rolls Royce have exhibited a new commission by Isaac Julien during Art Basel, which was held in mid-June. This new work, Stones Against Diamonds, is a video installation that draws inspiration from a letter written by Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi. In this letter, the architect praised the beauty of natural elements above that of precious stones, and Julien sought to reflect this by filming in the glistening ice caves of South East Iceland.
The resulting work incorporates signature elements of Bo Bardi’s work, including a spiral staircase and two large glass easels. It was not an easy film to make, and the crew endured five days in sub-zero temperatures to accomplish their task. Stones Against Diamonds forms part of the Rolls-Royce art programme, which draws together the handcrafted elegance of the marque’s motor cars with contemporary artists around the world. Julien originally staged an ‘artist talk’ with Rolls Royce during London’s 2012 Frieze Art Fair, and will progress to working on a larger Bo Bardi inspired piece next year.
Richard Carter, Director of Global Communications, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said, “The crew travelled to the ends of the earth to find the most beautiful natural components in order to create a piece of moving, dramatic and timeless art. This truly reflects Rolls-Royce, where the master craftsmen and women source the world’s finest materials to create rare, unique and exquisite motor cars, which transcend their primary function as a form of conveyance to become works of art themselves.”