Rolls-Royce to host first Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge exhibition

This week, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will host its inaugural Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge exhibition, a new initiative that invites emerging artists to create unique works inspired by Spirit of Ecstasy, the figurine that adorns the bonnet of all of the brand's cars.

In April, artists Bi Rongrong, Ghizlane Sahli and Scarlett Yang were unveiled as the winners of the Challenge, and their works will be showcased in exhibition from 5-8 October at Cromwell Place in London.

Ghizlane Sahli is a textile artist and designer who reuses and recycles materials in her work, drawing attention to critical environmental issues while exploring the beauty of everyday objects. Her design will create a suspended sculpture made from recycled plastic, combined with white silk and gold thread, which will be configured to convey qualities of the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine.

Scarlett Yang is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer with a focus on sustainable innovation, biomateriality and virtual fashion. Yang's design will incorporate a groundbreaking new material created from algae extract and silk cocoon protein, developed by Yang for the project, resulting in a dynamic textile work.

Bi Rongrong's design will feature imagery sourced from “urban skins” relevant to the Spirit of Ecstasy, incorporating metal and fabric, taking inspiration from materials used in the creation of a Rolls-Royce motor car.

The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge is a biennial initiative, the brand says, which each edition focusing on a different medium and related field of practice. This year's edition edition focuses on textile, challenging participants to "explore the possibilities of material and push the boundaries of textile design", as Rolls-Royce puts it.

The exhibition will be open by appointment only on 5 October and on public view from 6-8 October 2022, before embarking on an international tour.

rolls-roycemotorcars.com