On the whole, automobile museums are pretty serious places—not solemn or anything, just filled with significant cars, their details, their history and their enthusiasts.
But the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles has found room for a laugh—a lot of them, actually—in one corner of the huge museum.
From Whistler’s Mother at the wheel to a furry Fiat… there they are, waiting for a visitor’s recognition and a chuckle, or occasionally a belly laugh.
And there’s even room for some car-themed games, and a game-themed car built to resemble Pac-Man.
There are some more recent styles in the mimicry, as well. René Magritte’s famous challenge to reality is reproduced with an entirely different sort of pipe and we get an idea of what might have happened if Georges Braque had painted a Tesla Cybertruck. Below that, Van Gogh’s ‘Cafe Terrace at Night’ has acquired a parking space.
In case you’re wondering who created all these wonderful parodies and in-jokes, the answer is Mr Brainwash.
If that doesn’t add up to enough for you, we’ll add that his ‘real’ name is Thierry Guetta, born in France and now working in Los Angeles.
Overall, the exhibit is called ‘Cars are Beautiful,’ and the museum calls it “a fully immersive celebration of the automobile through the lens of contemporary artist Mr. Brainwash, including imaginative interpretations of iconic cars, engaging hands-on pieces, and an explosion of colors and unique creations.”
He’s not exactly shy about himself; on his website he’s posted “Mr. Brainwash’s talents are showcased in creative partnerships with powerhouse brands like Hublot, Coca-Cola, and Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee. He also collaborated with world-known soccer player Pelé, who joined the artist in splattering paint on select artwork.”
So, think about it…
Much of the work is on the walls, but there’s plenty of three-dimensional fun, too.
Rubik’s Cube and Winged (or should I say Tired) Victory and a sizable pile of mock-merch featuring vending machines full of miniature cars.
Not-quite-right logos—and your author in a dream of his own, on the road in a tarted-up Fiat 500
And some more paintings…
And even a painting of the Petersen Museum itself—yes, it does look like that—set in an impressionistic hayfield.
And before you jump to any conclusions abut the value or validity of all this fun and frolic, consider the slogan Mr Brainwash added to this last picture. He’s right, you know.
