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  • 6 days ago
Rolls-Royce presents three Bespoke motor cars inspired by the ancient mural paintings of Dunhuang, China. This extraordinary expression of cross-cultural artistry was commissioned through Private Office Shanghai, an invitation-only space in which the marque welcomes clients seeking to commission highly complex and deeply personal motor cars. The trio includes Phantom Extended, Black Badge Cullinan, and Black Badge Spectre.

All three motor cars feature new Bespoke exterior colours reserved exclusively for Private Office Shanghai clients, each inspired by local landscapes, art and cultural themes. These commissions also share a recurring design motif named Silken Spirit: conceived by Private Office Shanghai Bespoke Designer, Shuai Feng, the artwork is inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy and the flowing forms of imperial silk. The most detailed expression of the collection appears in the hand-painted Gallery artwork in Phantom Extended.
Transcript
00:00With this phantom gallery I've been traveling back in time and across cultures looking at
00:10ancient Chinese art murals for inspiration. Traditional Chinese aesthetic is heavily
00:17rooted in symbolism. Decorative patterns and colors often have implied meanings. For example,
00:23water symbolizes wealth and abundance. Here falling water represents continuous fortune
00:30from heaven while the river flowing down uninterrupted into a negative space symbolizes
00:36an open future to prosperity. Technically this artwork is very much an East meets West creation.
00:43I'm adapting a technique that was also developed in China more recently, reduction block printing.
00:49The process allows you to print one color at a time in layers using the same printing block,
00:55carving away each color as you go. Instead of using carved wood, I'm using a tiny
01:05sable brush and slowly building the final image one color at a time. This complicated layering
01:11method is just as unforgiving. I'm leaving tiny unpainted leather parts to create a print block
01:17carving illusion. It's a time-consuming process but I think it really adds value and meaning to the work.
01:30It's been a journey of discovery as I work closely with our designer in Shanghai.
01:35Symbolism and concept have always felt important to me when creating an artwork. I believe consideration
01:41an adaptation of traditional techniques have allowed us to produce something truly unique.

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