Mercedes-Benz presents Tom Sachs in follow-up to the Avant/Garde Diaries
- Exhibition of the “Miffy Fountain” sculpture by Tom Sachs on the “Walk of Art”
- Artist’s conversation with Tom Sachs and Jeffrey Deitch from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles as part of the official SAM programme
- Test drives with AMG models
St. Moritz/Stuttgart. For the fifth consecutive time Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG will support the St. Moritz Art Masters (SAM) with a wide range of activities. The St. Moritz Art Masters will take place from 24 August until 2 September 2012 in St. Moritz and the surrounding Oberengadin region.
This year Mercedes-Benz builds on the successful The Avant/Garde Diaries festival series www.theavantgardediaries.com with “Miffy Fountain” by US sculptor Tom Sachs on the “Walk of Art”. Sachs exhibited at the Avant/Garde Diaries festival in Los Angeles in spring.
Furthermore the premium automotive manufacturer will enhance the official programme of the St. Moritz Art Masters with a high-calibre artist’s conversation featuring Tom Sachs and Jeffrey Deitch, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles, among others.
“In the Avant/Garde Diaries we established a creative platform last year to foster social dialogue on avant-garde ideas and contemporary art in all their forms and manifestations. We want to continue this dialogue now at the St. Moritz Art Masters”, said Anders Sundt Jensen, Head of Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The globally held Avant/Garde Diaries festivals are a meeting ground where international artists and trendsetters under the curatorship of a visionary mentor can present their visions of the world of today and tomorrow, and engage with experts and the general public. In late April the festival series stopped at the “The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA” in Los Angeles. Tom Sachs was one of 17 participating artists.
Tom Sachs to exhibit at the St. Moritz Art Masters for the first time
At the St. Moritz Art Masters the New York sculptor will exhibit the monumental “Miffy Fountain” (274.3 x 122 x 122 cm) sculpture. The bronze sculpture coated with white hard foam will be installed in front of Badrutts Palace. Tom Sachs generally works with plywood, hard foam boards, synthetic polymer paint, ironware and found objects, which he regenerates for his purposes.
Each work appears unpolished and reflects his exploration of a “Do it yourself” aesthetic. He uses a selection of historic objects, popular consumer products, cultural iconographies and signs: the Raytheon logo, the Apollo 11 lunar lander, the dollar bill and the animated characters “Hello Kitty” and “Miffy”.
As part of the official SAM programme Mercedes-Benz will extend invitations to an artist’s conversation with Tom Sachs in the Posthaus on 1 September. Together with Jeffrey Deitch, Director of the MOCA in Los Angeles, as well as Anders Sundt Jensen, Head of Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars, he will discuss his works and the importance of contemporary art. The traditional Mercedes-Benz Cars Night will take place in Badrutts Palace following the conversation.
Exclusive driving experiences with the performance brand AMG
In addition to art Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG will be present with various latest-generation vehicles. As in years past the AMG performance brand will offer test drives through the mountain world of the Engadin region that stand under the motto “Driving Performance”. Starting point will be the AMG Lounge in the parking lot of the Hotel Schweizerhof. In addition, comfortable smart ebikes will be on hand for guided art tours for the first time.
