Leelee Chan’s BMW Art Journey “Tokens From Time” intends to trace material culture from the past, present and future. The artist will visit artisan families that practice ancient craftsmanship techniques using copper, silver and marble, among other materials, some of which play a role in the artist’s own sculptural practice. Along her journey, Chan will engage in dialogues with scientists and experts to understand how natural materials may be substituted by synthetic materials in the future.
Investigating ancient materials and their future substitutes from the emerging fields of nanotechnology and biotechnology, Leelee Chan’s BMW Art Journey project gives expression to the evolving relationship between people and materials, and touches on contemporary debates surrounding ecological and cultural sustainability. Spanning from the hand-crafted to the industrial to the post-industrial, the artist's investigation of materials ultimately asks the question, “What does it mean to be a sculptor today?” In search of an answer, Leelee Chan plans to visit destinations in Europe, Japan and the Americas. Her final travel itinerary will be determined in observance of current travel and health regulations tied to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I am beyond excited to be selected for the BMW Art Journey. Material objects have always been at the core of my practice. The journey will allow me to dig much deeper by discovering new processes, by encountering the people who work with them in their everyday lives, and, thereby, to make them meaningful for me as a sculptor working in this current uncertain moment,” says Leelee Chan.
The international jury consisted of Claire Hsu, Director, Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong; Matthias Mühling, Director, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau, Munich; Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, President, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin; Philip Tinari, Director, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing; and Samson Young, artist and winner of the first BMW Art Journey.
“Leelee Chan’s journey spans across time and space to consider the stories of materials, including metal, stone and crystals, and explore how they have shaped our human experience,” noted the Jury in its statement. “From ancient crystal caves in Mexico to marble workshops in Italy to high-tech synthetic quartz factories in Japan, the artist plans to investigate materials with the help of experts and craft practitioners, both as a source of raw material and as an inspiration for reflection. We were impressed by how Leelee Chan engages with materials that are charged with needs, values and ideas, to ask what it means to be a sculptor working today and tomorrow.”
In addition to Leelee Chan, the shortlisted artists for the BMW Art Journey 2020 were: Jes Fan (represented by Empty Gallery, Hong Kong) and the artist duo Amy Lien & Enzo Camacho (represented by 47 Canal, New York).
Launched in 2015, the BMW Art Journey is a collaboration between Art Basel and BMW, created to recognize and support emerging artists worldwide. Now in its sixth year the initiative is evolving. Since 2020, the circle of eligible artists has been broadened. For the first time, eligible participants included not only emerging and mid-career artists from the Discoveries sector, but also artists presented by participating galleries founded no more than ten years ago. As this year's Art Basel show in Hong Kong had to be cancelled due to the outbreak and spread of Covid-19, the jury conducted its selection process online. Artists and their galleries were invited to submit digital applications, including a short video by the artists explaining their work and process.
Past winners of the BMW Art Journey include sound and performance artist Samson Young (represented by a.m. Space, Hong Kong at Art Basel's Hong Kong show in 2015); video artists Henning Fehr and Philipp Rühr (represented by Galerie Max Mayer, Dusseldorf at Art Basel's Miami Beach show in 2015); Abigail Reynolds (represented by Rokeby, London at Art Basel's show in Hong Kong in 2016) as well as Max Hooper Schneider (represented by High Art, Paris at Art Basel's Miami Beach show in 2016), Astha Butail (represented by GALLERYSKE, New Dehli, Bangalore at Art Basel´s Hong Kong show in 2017), Jamal Cyrus (represented by Inman Gallery, Houston at Art Basel’s Miami Beach show in 2017), Zac Langdon-Pole (represented by Michael Lett, Auckland at Art Basel’s Hong Kong show in 2018) and Lu Yang (represented by the gallery Société, Berlin at Art Basel in Hong Kong 2019).
BMW has supported Art Basel’s shows in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong for many years.
BMW PRESS
Event date: 14 June 2020
My son and I recently joined BMWDCM, and whilst this process was completed online and during COVID19, it didn’t take away the warm greeting we received from Graeme Bell at the workshop to sign off our car for club reg and the follow up call to welcome us to the club by Jo Mawson. Within weeks we engaged in a club meeting via Zoom, pursued Lawrence in a club social drive to Mt Macedon, met a bunch of friendly members and registered for the Sandown Driver Training and Come & Try Day.
Given that this was our first Sandown Driver Training and Come & Try Day, I was both excited and nervous, but rest assured our registration was followed by a prompt courtesy call from Jo giving us the full rundown of required paperwork and gear in preparation for Sandown. So I was still excited, but more nervous. Jo kept on our tail until we dotted all of the i's and crossed the t's, and she waived a bit of magic and all was in place and ready for Sandown!
One day before Sandown we detailed the cars, rechecked fluids, fuel, paper work, safety gear and put our cars to bed. Later that night the heavens open up and normally the sound of rain brings thoughts of tranquillity, but this night it brought thoughts of understeer, oversteer, missed the apex, overshot the corner, sand trap parking, social distancing, traction, safety car, etc.
The big day came - morning coffee 6.30am, rain has stopped, cars loaded with gear, outside was crisp, quiet and a fresh morning, something was missing - ah yes - the beautiful sound of the E90 M3 cold start – music to the ears (maybe not so much to the neighbours). We make a gentle exit from our home to Sandown track with M3 and Audi Quattro.
We made a pit stop at Sandown Caltex and checked our tyre pressures. The clouds were clearing with the sun breaking through, the day was looking good! On arrival we glance across the car park, BMW X3 Alpina towing an E9 CSL in full motorsport livery – the day just got a whole lot better!
The final leg over the Sandown Bridge to gate entry, we were greeted by volunteers, had our temperatures and paperwork checked, and we were reminded by officials of our COVID safe responsibilities. Next stop was registration, stick numbers on cars, get comfortable in our pit lane garage, have a chat to fellow drivers Ian, Simeon, Frans and Peter, all drivers stoped what they were doing to listen to the drivers briefing read out over the PA.
It was then time to get on the track - so I got my car up to temperature, familiarised myself with wearing a helmet, made a note of marshals, kept an eye out for fellow drivers - a squeeze of the brakes, punch of the throttle and let the sweet sound of the engine sing! An exhilarating adrenaline rush for the drivers on the day and similarly for the mechanics the day after…
We appreciate successful events don't just happen without all of the hard work behind the scenes! From a participants point of view, it was seamless, especially your patience and understanding for first timers like us and keeping everyone COVID safe. Nothing was too difficult, and all details were considered including the weather! An amazing day enjoyed by all of the participants.
Congratulations to the committee, officials and volunteers in delivering a successful event for the members and friends of BMWDCM.
Michael & Marcus Mimmo | Member #523 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
The MINI John Cooper Works (combined fuel consumption: 7.1 – 6.9 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 162 – 157 g/km) is the apogee of extreme driving fun in the premium segment for small cars. Its inspiringly sporty characteristics are surpassed only by a rare gem: the new MINI John Cooper Works GP (combined fuel consumption: 7.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 167 g/km). The full potential of its engine and drivetrain engineering unfolds above all on the race track. The fascinating character of the model manufactured in a small series of just 3 000 units can now be transferred to everyday life on the road in the MINI John Cooper Works. From July 2020, the John Cooper Works GP Pack is being supplied factory fitted for this car. The pack with exclusive design and equipment attributes will bring authentic race-track flair to the road.
The John Cooper Works GP Pack offers some ideal options for especially intensive expression of motor-sport passion. The entire pack content is perfectly harmonised with the design and character of the MINI John Cooper Works. The content was developed on the basis of expert know-how gathered in the white heat of the race track, which has assisted all the models of the John Cooper Works brand to achieve inspiring performance, and is derived directly from the development process for the new MINI John Cooper Works GP. This content enables the MINI John Cooper Works to hone its sporting profile in a particularly authentic approach.
Racing Grey metallic for the body and the contrast colour Melting Silver metallic for the roof, John Cooper Works rear spoiler and mirror caps, have been reserved exclusively for the coachwork livery of the new MINI John Cooper Works GP so far. Together with the black engine bonnet scoop, black door handles and black fuel lid they now highlight the intimate relationship between the two extreme athletes. The 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels in the design John Cooper Works Cup Spoke are emblazoned with the “GP” badge on the centre caps. The Piano Black headlight surrounds and the blackened inner parts for the headlights and rear lights, the black MINI logo on the bonnet and tailgate, as well as the entry strips, which also bear the “GP” logo, additionally highlight the impressive appearance of the vehicles fitted with the new John Cooper Works GP Pack.
Notwithstanding the exceptionally marked inspiration derived from motor sport, the MINI John Cooper Works is a winner with unrestricted everyday roadable capability. The inimitable race feeling can be experienced in the car interior on four seats, while the MINI John Cooper Works GP has been designed as a two-seater to consistently epitomise elite sporting performance. The new John Cooper Works GP Pack includes John Cooper Works sports seats in a Leather Dinamica finish with the “GP” badge. The logo is also featured in the floor mats for the driver and front passenger, and both front and rear mats are finished in red stitching. The John Cooper Works leather steering wheel, which is also part of the new GP Pack, has been designed in a unique concept. The steering wheel is covered in Walknappa Leather, features red stitching and 3D printed metal centre marking for the 12 o’clock position. Associated with the optional 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, the metal shift paddles on the steering wheel with the “GP” logo are also produced in a 3D printing process.
The MINI Original range of accessories includes a large choice of appealing products for additionally creating an individual identity that is tailored precisely to the motor-sport flair of the John Cooper Works GP Pack. The dynamic charisma of the MINI John Cooper Works can be further enhanced by a bonnet scoop, side scuttles and a tailgate handle in stitched carbon, alongside the black waistline finisher. An even more intense sports-car ambience in the interior is enhanced by a number of features including the John Cooper Works shift knob and the John Cooper Works hand-brake grip in carbon fibre with Alcantara gaiter.
Event date: 8 June 2020
I am a relatively new member to the BMWDCM and I already feel so welcome.
My name is Jacob and I recently purchased my first BMW, a 2004 325ci e46 and the only thing I wish I had done is purchase it sooner! I am in love with my car an absolute pleasure to drive. It may be 16 years old but something about being behind the wheel of a BMW makes it feels like a touch above.
I joined BMW Drivers Club Melbourne about 3 weeks ago to be able to interact and meet fellow BMW enthusiasts but little did I know I was joining a family, a great group of people. I had my first virtual club zoom meeting last week held by Jo, and Graeme. There were some special guests, reputable people in the motorsport industry who have been involved in Marshalling and officiating for a very long time and were very generous with the knowledge and open to many questions, a great way for me to be introduced to the club by hearing what is involved behind the scenes on race weekends and track days.
Then today I went along to my first social meet and drive to Macedon on Queens Birthday Public holiday. What an amazing day, I came up from Geelong to meet at meet point 1 at Warrandyte, we then headed to Wallan for meet point 2 and then off we went to our final destination Macedon Memorial Cross. The weather was sensational, the cars were sensational and the company was great. It was my first time meeting many members face to face.
The club organised a great day and had everyone's best interest at heart through the COVID-19 pandemic with social distancing, the drive was amazing great landscape and to top it off some of the best BMWs I have seen, 47 in fact I’m told.
Highly recommend BMWDCM to any BMW enthusiast out there or anyone wanting to be in a club who put on great gatherings very helpful and just have a liking for cars.
Jacob Bennett | Member #514 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
I've just bought my first BMW, and to put it mildly, I'm super impressed. It's a fabulous driving experience.
A friend told me about the club, so I decided I'd join up and see what goes on in the BMW community. From the info that's hit my mailbox to date, quite a bit!
The drive on Sunday followed a fabulous route, great scenery, and a variety of road types. Well done to whoever spent the time mapping the route and providing the instructions, top job.
There wasn't a lot of time/opportunity to mingle, apart from Wallan but I realized this was just a drive only event and we needed to adhere to the COVID restrictions. If the objective was to blow the cobwebs out, objective achieved. My friend and I had a great day, and I got to have my first decent drive.
That's enough from me for now. Loving the Beamer and very happy to get my backside in a car that's designed to be driven.
Graham Thomas | Member #534 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Model variants:
MONTH IN REVIEW
In May we held our virtual members meeting with a remote tour around club sponsor, Creative Custom Cars. Alan How gave us an amazing tour of the projects they have there at the moment.
We have been working on future events and preparing for our new normal. As we start getting out and about again we recommend you download the Covid-Safe App and have it working on your phone. If someone who attends one of our events becomes unwell, it will be much easier to follow up with you.
We are very happy to let you know that our second edition of idrive is currently at the printers and will be at your doorstep very soon!
Unfortunately due to COVID-19, there were some delays but we're so excited to share idrive with you.
BMWDCM are proud supporters of the Blue Ribbon Foundation. If you would also like to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation, click here to purchase your own bear or badge.
If you require assistance from Jo or Graeme during this time, please do not phone the Bell Motorsport phone number (03 5979 1599) and instead phone Jo on 0412 661 900.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 468 MEMBERS
Welcome to our new members, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!
Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Finally, the good news we have all been waiting for, restrictions are starting to ease and we can start to leave our homes.
Here's what we've got planned for June:
Be sure to keep an eye on our calendar for more events as they become available.
EVENT VOLUNTEERS
We will be needing help for the upcoming Sandown Driver Training and Come & Try day. If you are interested in helping please email Jo.
MEMBER CAR OF THE MONTH
This month we're kicking off our feature member's car of the month.. We had so many interesting submissions we thought we'd kick off with a motorbike! To read all about John's 1959 R69 click here.
To submit your own car, or motorbike for next month, click here.
NEWS & BLOG
idrive magazine
Everyone has their own BMW story - we'd love to share yours.
Email us to feature in our very own idrive magazine.
MEMBER SERVICES
President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296 Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900 Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn
Proudly supported by: All Residential/All Commercial Creative Custom Cars Melbourne BMW Mornington BMW Shannons Insurance Southern BM Traction Tyres Waverley BMW Zagame Autobody
Dear Members,
Welcome to all the new members that have joined us through lockdown. Our membership is sitting at 468 as I write this, and it continues to amaze me how our club has grown in such a short time. I think the committee and membership as a whole, deserve a huge pat on the back for making this the best BMW Club around. It is amazing to see we have continued to grow, even though we haven’t been able to get out and about and run events.
Very soon you will be receiving edition 2 of our wonderful annual Journal, idrive. I have seen a few snippets and I can’t wait to see it in print and read all of your stories and be taken back to all the wonderful events we ran over the last year. Thank you to the advertisers and sponsors that have come on board to allow us to produce such a world class Journal. You will be impressed; Jess and Leigh have done an amazing job, yet again. It's hard to think it could be better than edition 1, but I think you will be amazed at what you get in your mailbox.
Finally, the good news we have all been waiting for, we will be getting out and about again now the restrictions are starting to ease. After months of self-isolation and everyone doing their best to stem the spread, we can now start running events again.
We had another great virtual members meeting at the start of the month with a remote tour around club Sponsor, Creative Custom Cars. Alan How giveus an amazing tour of the projects they have there at the moment. We also recorded the tour and the rest of the meeting, if you would like to go and have a look, it is here.
We have been working on future events and getting ready to get back to our new normal. The last few months have been very different, which I think make us realise how lucky we are living in Australia. When you look at what has happened in other countries, we have been very lucky and have been able to contain anything that has come here, now allowing us to start venturing out again. As we start getting out and about again we recommend you download the Australian Government's Covid-Safe App and have it working on your phone when you do come to events, it will make it a lot easier if something does happen and we need to follow up with all who attend.
We will still have our members meeting for June virtually, with representatives from different areas of motorsport officiating joining in to tell us about their area of expertise. We often ask for people to come and help at our track days or to register with Motorsport Australia as an Official, so this is your chance to log in and ask questions about the many varied roles available to officiate at a club or race meeting. We often think of flaggies or scrutineers as they are the ones we see most, but there are lots of jobs that need to be filled to run an event and if you’d like to get involved without driving (or get into some of the big race meetings for free) then there are plenty of roles to choose from. Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, 2 June to find out more.
Our first meet-up and drive since all this began, will be on the Queen’s Birthday Holiday Monday. We are very much looking forward to getting out and seeing people and going for a drive again, especially along some of Peter Williams’ amazing drive routes.
On Sunday, 14 June we are back on track, literally! Our Driver Training and Come & Try Day at Sandown is all go. We released entries on Saturday night last weekend and before the end of the week we were sold out with a growing wait list. We have, and still are, working very closely with Sandown and Motorsport Australia to get us back on track and we will be one of the very first clubs to return to running track days under the new regulations. The rules are still evolving on exactly what we will be doing, or allowed to do, on the day. We will have a lot of changes to how we run the event and some officials from Motorsport Australia are coming along to see how we do it and how the new rules will work in practice. It will be interesting, and we are confident everything will work as it should and everyone will have a great time. One thing I will mention is that we cannot have spectators at this event. So if you are not entered or an official unfortunately you won't be able to come and watch this time.
The good news continues though, our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Round 5, including the Cross-Border Cup with BMW Drivers Club NSW at Winton on 4 July is only a few weeks after Sandown. If you miss out on Sandown, or indeed go to Sandown and need another track fix, we will have the entries out for that shortly too. We need lots of Victorian members to come and help us bring the Cross-Border Cup home! Keep your eyes on your email, as soon as Motorsport Australia approve the supplementary regulations, we will get them out to you.
That’s it from me for now, I am very much looking forward to getting out and seeing our members and running events again. It is important to remember that we still need to be sensible, keep your social distance and keep up your hand washing and other sanitary processes and we will be able to get back to normal and keep every one safe at the same time.
Take care, see you down the road somewhere.
Graeme Bell | President BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
P.O. Box 81, TYABB, VICTORIA. 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695GBMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of: BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International CouncilMotorsport Australia Affiliated Motorsport Club
Name: John
What make is your vehicle? BMW
What model is your vehicle? R69
What year is it? 1959
What engine does it have? 600cc flat twin air cooled
What colour is it? Dover white.
When did you purchase it? 2016
Where did you purchase it? UK
What attracted you to this particular vehicle? The stylle, and it's a BMW icon.
Do you work on it yourself? Yes, I do all the work.
Generally, what do you love about it? The style and rarity.
If you had to pick one piece of it that you just love to look at, hear or touch, what would it be and why? The whole bike!
Tell us about the best drive you've had in it. As usual in the Pyrenees.
What about the worst drive? Why? None!
Any improvements/modifications/restorations planned? No. I'll keep it standard.
In two words, how would you describe it? Gorgeous and style.
Is there anything else about your car that is of interest (i.e previous celebrity owner, raced, a show winner, limited number in Australia)? Only 2,956 units produced.
Thanks for sharing with us John! If you'd like to share your car (or motorbike!) with us, click here to submit your car or bike for next month!
Hi members,
Finally, we are getting good news and signs that things are opening up as restrictions are lifting slowly.
We will be doing a virtual members meeting again on Tuesday, 2 June but then getting back to actually getting out into the world!
We are setting up events as we speak, the plan being that we will return to doing drives and outings in June. The first will be a drive on the Queen’s Birthday holiday, look out for entry details for that in the next couple of days.
We have also been in discussion with Motorsport Australia and tracks to see when we will be able to get back on track. I am very happy to say that we will be going ahead with our planned Sandown Come and Try and Driver Training Day on 14 June. We have the permit and everything organised, we're just working through the final requirements for a Covid-Safe plan so we can release entries. So keep an eye on your emails, entries should be out later this week. It will be great to get out and have a squirt on a track again! This day will be for everyone, whether you want to come and practice, just a few laps to stretch your car's legs, or get a few tips on lines and improving lap times, you are all welcome.
We will also be needing some instructors and officials for the event, so even if you don’t want to drive around the track you can come and help as an official. There won’t be any spectators allowed this time and there will be a few other requirements to keep everyone safe, but should be a great day!
Other events and our strategy to get back out doing the things we love will be released as we go along and, of course, will depend on the fluctuations of restrictions and how we, as a community, respond to easing restrictions and any outbreaks.
Keep well everyone, the light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter!
© 2024 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc. All Rights Reserved.
