Among the innovative displays at Milan Design Week, there was also an electric presentation by the luxury automaker Lexus. Last weekend, Lexus invited visitors to experience its new two-part exhibition celebrating the brand’s newest electric vehicle concept, the Lexus LF-ZC.
Presented under the theme “Time,” the show included original works by several international artists and was on display in Tortona, Milan’s world-renowned creative district. The exhibition captured the brand’s vision for the future of automation and the infinite possibilities of electric innovation.
The first of two installations, “Beyond the Horizon,” immersed viewers in light and sound. Designer Hideki Yoshimoto and Tangent Studio blended state-of-the-art technology with Japanese craftsmanship to deliver a mesmerizing piece. Yoshimoto positioned the Lexus’ LF-ZC in the center of the space, backdropped by a large screen projecting light sequences.
The screen was made from bamboo fibers, which reflected the sustainable interiors of the LF-ZC. The bamboo composition also paid homage to the 1,500-year heritage of Echizen washi, a traditional paper found in Japanese homes. Musician and composer Keiichiro Shibuya created an original composition, “Abstract Music,” to complement Yoshimoto’s piece.
Lexus
Lexus
Lexus
The second installation was a new work by Marjan van Aubel. For “8 Minutes and 20 Seconds,” Aubel incorporated solar design and technology to encourage more everyday synergy with the natural environment. Her installation, which was named after the time it takes light to reach the Earth from the sun, reimagined the LF-ZC among holographic trees.
Like “Beyond the Horizon,” no two moments were the same in Aubel’s work. “8 Minutes and 20 Seconds” was constantly changing, in reference to the ever-evolving nature of electric technologies. The artist invited viewers to touch a sensor that triggered a unique sunrise display for each person. The sensor was made from a bamboo copper fabric—bamboo was a throughline in both works and was employed in innovative ways.
“‘Time’ comes from our belief that experience and time are inseparable concepts,” said Simon Humphries, Lexus’ Chief Branding Officer. “Lexus has a firmly human-centered philosophy, and we believe that providing people with unique experiences in an age when technology will allow cars to anticipate and evolve with the customer begins with exploring the relationship between people and time itself.”
Take a closer look at the exhibition in the gallery above.
