Munich. The MINI design studio has invited
up-and-coming collage artist Constantin Prozorov to create a fresh
presentation of the new MINI model family by reinterpreting digital
image worlds in his unique style. Thanks to the striking image
compositions he creates, Prozorov has already made a name for himself
in the fashion industry. For MINI design, he generated three
mesmerising collages that position the brand’s future models
centre-stage amid fantastical illustration and animations.
The MINI design team draws inspiration and creative momentum from the
art and fashion scene. While Prozorov has already created digital
image worlds for luxury fashion brands, this is the first time he has
collaborated with an automotive brand. He is known for the modern,
avant-garde aesthetics of his collages; just as in the classical roots
of this art form, Constantin Prozorov breathes new life into existing
material. For his work in the MINI design studio, he used the
background motifs in front of which the brand’s new models are
introduced for a range of different presentations. Using digital
technology, he composed the artwork provided by the MINI designers in
a new way, and then complemented it with the fantastical figures and
floral elements which make his work so distinctive.
„Constantin Prozorov’s artistic style offers an inspiring viewpoint
on the design of the new MINI family,” says Oliver Heilmer, Head of
MINI Design. “It is unique, playful and full of positive energy.”
During more than a year of collaboration between the artist and the
MINI design studio, three urban dream worlds have been created in
which surreal elements are seamlessly merged into the representation
of the new MINI models and the surroundings staged for them. Each of
these collages is composed of up to 200 levels and can be viewed both
as a static image world and in the form of an animated clip.
All collages are interwoven with unifying stylistic elements that
unite them into a triptych: from the colourful towering rooftop which
makes a stage for the new all-electric MINI Cooper, to a water-rich
landscape with picnic area for the new all-electric MINI Countryman,
to a bright and lively urban environment showcasing the future
all-electric MINI Aceman. There are also charming details that only
reveal themselves to the observer on closer inspection: the Spike
digital character rendered as an art toy in the collage for the MINI
Cooper; a glistening dolphin crossing the path of the MINI Countryman;
or a stylised playing card as a placeholder for the MINI Aceman.
This artist has a keen eye for fashion, and from the new MINI models
he was particularly taken by the interior surfaces made from recycled
knitwear. They appear repeatedly in his collages as an abstracted,
oversized element. Prozorov also incorporates design features such as
the brand’s characteristic slotted hole as well as familiar motifs
from pop culture and contemporary art. The approach encourages the
observer to think beyond traditional boundaries and invites them to
engage in the wide-ranging opportunities offered by art and design.
The MINI designers found that the exchange with Constantin Prozorov
opens fresh perspectives on the MINI models even for them.
Conversation with creative minds from different disciplines has always
been one of the most important sources of inspiration. The results of
the latest collaboration will be presented as part of IAA Mobility 2023.