BMW continues its use of electronic ink with E-Ink technology and this time presents a art car which takes advantage of this new technology: BMW i5 Flow Nostokana.

A dynamic work of art

In 1991 Esther Mahlangu designed the 12th BMW Art Car based on the BMW 525i: she became the first woman and the first African artist to create a work of art based on a BMW car. At the age of 88, the South African artist has once again created an art car for BMW, this time with the latest generation 5 Series: BMW i5 Flow Nostokana was first presented at the Frieze contemporary art fair in Los Angeles on February 29.
“The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana celebrates the history of the BMW brand and uniquely continues the story of our global cultural commitment. It combines art and design with the use of advanced technologies. Here technology itself becomes art”said Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, on the occasion.
This modern reinterpretation of a car from the 90s is distinguished by its technology: sections of electronic movies E-Ink can be animated and this allows the machine change color as desired.

BMW i5 Flow Nostokana: soundtrack for animation

The BMW i5 Flow Nostokana features film sections that can be animated electronically, with two stripes on the roof, hood and rear, as well as the sides of the car. Like an e-book, an E-Ink film contains several million microcapsules that can be modified by applying electrical voltage : this helps create the colors and patterns typical of Mahlangu artwork.
In general, the BMW i5 Flow Nostokana was equipped 1349 sections of the film, each of which can be controlled separately. A laser cutting process was used to cut the film and the electronic control design was developed in partnership with E-Ink. Finally, the BMW Group was responsible for adapting the technology to curved surfaces as well as for programmed animation.
Renzo Vitale, Creative Director of BMW Group Sound, also created a soundtrack to accompany the animations inspired by the South African Ndebele culture: a sequence of Mahlangu’s voice was used, as well as the sounds of the feather brushes with which she paints. They were combined with the sounds of colored pencils used in the BMW design studio, as well as the acoustic feedback of the BMW i5 touch screen.

BMW is working on color change technology for several years, notably with the 2022 BMW iX Flow and 2023 BMW i Vision Dee concepts.

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