Steered to vibrant makeovers

Inspired by the visual pop art movement popularised by Andy Warhol, the local and foreign artists participating in the Saadiyat Art Cars Expo at Manarat Al Saadiyat have challenged standard parameters and infused a masterful blend of hard-edge composition and their distinctive style into a fleet of 24 European and American classic cars offered to them by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

Wasel Safwan, Noora Al Suwaidi and Maisoon Al Saleh are among the established artists who synchronised their versatile values with international counterparts such as China's Li Jikai, Singapore's Benjamin Puah and Vincent Leow, and emerging French artist Fabien Verschaere.

Vincent Leow is a pivotal figure in the alternative art scene in Singapore. His work parallels the development of contemporary art in the country, where some artists employ comical and kitsch images to their pop art and others incorporate national symbols, icons and traditional motifs. Leow fuses folk art and popular culture with traditional motifs and designs from crafts such as batik.

For this exhibition, he retains the original black background of his canvas (car), while using contrasting tones of red, white and green for the designs. The final layer consists of figures overlaying the patterns in gold. Overall, the work of art is rhythmic and energetic.

Leow's earlier paintings were marked by unapologetic aggression, blatant sexuality and temperamental emotions. However, his later paintings assumed several shifts. They were marked by an urban street style and Neo-Surrealism; others carried a pop-art sensibility, a taste for kitsch and always a highly individual visual vocabulary. This transition in style prompted art writers to describe his practice as epitomising Post-Modern visual strategies.

"I explore the possibilities of challenging the way art can be viewed," he says. "In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Singapore art scene was dominated by abstract and realistic artists. For me, highly charged imagery was more appealing. I derive inspiration from my surroundings, both physical and psychological. The transition is inevitable as the change in the surrounding creates a new vocabulary for my work, making it contemporary."

Taking a closer look at Li's work, we easily sense the coalesced elements of the visual art movement and his own Surrealistic style. As a spectator he observes the dynamic society and interpreting the difference between the realistic world and his own mythology, he creates a spectrum of his own creations.

Likewise, Verschaere's characters and colours unleash power and flow. The universal and immutable subjects provoke ambiguous feelings. They can be seen as a whole and as a series of personal mythologies that depicts the contradictory and complex themes, conditions and experiences of life.

Safwan's artwork is a testament to the fact that the study of architecture has influenced his emerging style of abstract UAEism, making it clearer and sharper by introducing broken lines and geometry. Evolving from the cultural influences of his upbringing and surroundings, the congruous juxtapositions of contrasting colours and penetrative shapes compose a view of the world that is vibrant and confident.

"Seeing the Chevrolet Impala, I know UAEism will grow. Geometry is there, even if I keep the canvas [car] blank." The Chevrolet Impalas used by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan during his many tours of Abu Dhabi's eastern region are the most stunning display of the show.

The founder of an online shopping site punkarabia, Al Saleh's controversial work has an unusual preoccupation with the human skeleton. She keeps the colour scheme constant throughout her work. Her work is reminiscent of the creations of Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg.

Saadiyat Art Cars Expo coincides with Abu Dhabi's inaugural Grand Prix Formula 1. Alongside the classic cars is a line-up of vintage models of heavy equipment that traces the development of motoring in Abu Dhabi through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. To make it accessible to the public, the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) has opened a small section on the northern tip of the island. When the exhibition closes, the designer cars will be auctioned off and a portion of the proceeds will go to charity.

 Layla Haroon is a freelance writer based in Abu Dhabi.

The Saadiyat Art Cars Expo is on at the Manarat Al Saadiyat exhibition hall at Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, until November 30.