Infiniti, the luxury performance automotive brand from Japan, is pleased to announce the winner of ‘Inspired Performance’, the first theme of their international Digital Art Competition.
Japan-born, Shinji Nukumi, triumphed at yesterday evening’s launch of Europe’s 50th Infiniti Centre in Marseille, South of France. The digital artist, who collaborated with the Japanese NBBR design consultancy, scored the majority of the votes cast by guests during the opening ceremonies of Europe’s newest Infiniti retail outlets from the installations presented by the category’s six finalists who emanated from countries including India, Slovakia, and the USA.
The 37 year-old from Tokyo, was awarded a prize of €10,000 for his outstanding installation entitled ‘Infiniti Passion’, by Bernard Loire, Infiniti’s Vice President of Europe and the Middle East, before the evening’s 300 VIPs. They included stars from the Olympique de Marseille football team, French media, fellow contenders, as well as judge Birgit Lohmann and Massimo Mini, the Editor-in-Chief and Associate of the Infiniti contest’s global partner, designboom, the world’s first online art, architecture and design magazine.
The winning artwork, entitled ‘Infiniti Passion’, is a design composed of a series of eye-catching projections on to an Infiniti G Coupé model, which focuses on the ‘inner’ dimension of the car in order to be able to see the potential of the marque.
‘Inspired Performance’, the debut phase of the Infiniti Digital Art Competition, saw over 500 registrations from 72 countries in regions including Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The 50 highest-calibre artworks were shortlisted by Infiniti Europe and designboom prior to a jury nominating the six top installations for the final stage of voting.
Visitors to the official inauguration of Infiniti Centre Marseille equally enjoyed an exclusive performance from members of the Cirque du Soleil cast as well as a display of the latest range of Infiniti models which included the M35h, the world’s fastest accelerating petrol-electric-hybrid, and the FX Sebastian Vettel version concept car. The Infiniti Inspired Performance Gallery also revealed an exhibit of the unique works of Jacques Cochin, a talented photographer who creates diptychs which combine elements of fashion and motorsport to create spectacular images depicting similarities between performance and haute couture.
Commenting on the ceremony celebrating the first theme of the Infiniti Digital Art Competition, Jean-Pierre Diernaz, a jury member for ‘Inspired Performance’, and Marketing Director of Infiniti Europe, said: “We would like to congratulate Shinji Nukumi and RBBR on his remarkable achievement for which he should be proud. The contest has so far been a veritable success, and we have brought hidden talent to the forefront of the public eye through exploring the ‘Inspired Performance’ philosophy which lies at the heart of our brand. The contest revealed works of exceptional quality and clearly underlines the creativity and passion for art which exists across the globe. This is a solid foundation for which to continue building this truly international Digital Art Competition.”
Winner Shinji Nukumi, added: “Perhaps no other competition evokes a sense of possibility more than the Infiniti Digital Art Competition. The contest overwhelms others in regards to reality, influence, and the immense contribution to art. The hosting of this event is in itself the embodiment of Infiniti’s passion and capacity. I personally would like this competition to be held with vigour for years to come, as a medium through which artists around the world can express themselves.”
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