Though not strictly interior related, Lexus has continued its recent run of unique design collaborations with the creation of its ‘tattoo car’, a Lexus UX SUV decorated by London tattoo artist Claudia De Sabe, which will be on display at Hampton Court Palace Artisan Festival in London. The tattoo car was conceived as a tribute to the takumi craftsmanship and traditional Japanese artistry that Lexus says is applied to each of its cars.
Using a pure white car as a ‘canvas’ and a Dremel rotary tool in place of a fine tattooing needle, De Sabe produced a sweeping design featuring koi carp, a traditional motif in Japanese art, along the entire length of the vehicle. The tattooed UX doesn’t have a price tag, but it’s estimated the one-off artwork would cost upwards of £120,000 (US$169,000).
De Sabe will demonstrate her techniques at the festival, which starts on June 18, by ‘tattooing’ a UX bonnet with three new bespoke designs each day at the Lexus Art Studio. She will also participate in a live on-stage Q&A to talk about her craft and the influences and inspirations behind her art.
