Cars & Creativity

Cars are pieces of art that were designed to serve a purpose: provide transportation. Oftentimes these ‘functional artpieces’ are also considered as an accessory—and are chosen and beautified as one would his or her wardrobe. So perhaps it is not far-fetched to say that making a car one’s own brings out imagination in people...and thus it becomes an expression of personality and of oneself. Having said that, it is a pleasure to see certain car dealerships celebrate art and creativity, as was the case with the Mazda Pasig showroom when it opened its “Medium Rare Art Show” late last year.

The show was an exhibit that featured a mixture of functional and sculptural works by artists Joey de Castro and Gabby Tiongson, and ran from October to November. Dealer principals Mike Tan and Anthony Cheng thought it was about time that somebody in the car industry did something to help our Pinoy artists, and did their part by allowing them to put their artworks on display against the backdrop of Mazda vehicles in the Pasig showroom along C5 (E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue).

“I thought it was about time we did something to help re-introduce Mazda to the public—in a different light,” said Tan, explaining why he decided to execute something unique. The art pieces were put up for sale to the public, and included resin figures, vinyl figures and freehand drawings (sharpie on paper) by Gabby “Diko” Tiongson and pottery by Joey de Castro.

When asked whether he thought that Mazda customers were particularly in touch with their artistic side, he answered “Mazda owners belong to a fraternity of car owners who recognize and appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into each car that rolls out of the Hiroshima plant; so in this context, I would agree that most of Mazda enthusiasts would enjoy some form of art.”

The local art scene has always been acknowledged as teeming with creative geniuses and fresh talent, but unfortunately has not won very much support from the government. It is always delightful to find members of the private sector who help prop our local artists by providing them with opportunities to increase their exposure and grow their craft.

Similarly, Tan expresses how he empathizes with our local artists and wishes for them to likewise rise above the situation, in saying “Mazda is coming out of the shadows of years of under-appreciation—by the local car industry, by the motoring media, by the public. This year, and the following years, Mazda will emerge as one of the best-made cars and more importantly, one of the most fun, ‘drivable’ cars in any segment in the market today. I would like to believe that an intelligent market will certainly embrace this reality.” Adding that “In life, you get what you work for, what you pay for. More so in the world of automobiles.”