An art exhibition amidst the supercars

Michelle Poonawalla to showcase graffiti during inaugural Women’s Super Car Club of India drive

In the middle of a unique setup of super cars, famous artist Michelle Poonawalla will be showcasing works from her latest graffiti series with all types of BMW, Ferrari and Rolls Royce around.

Michelle will be partnering with the inaugural Women’s Super Car Club of India drive. Her exhibition will include Cosmos, Desert Rose I, Autumn Graffiti Flutters, Graffiti Water Reflections, Multi-Colour Graffiti Splash, and Raining Butterflies at Big Boy Toyz, in Gurgaon on the 20 February 2022.

The inauguration of the first drive held by the Women’s Super Car Club of India hopes to be the first of many women-led events and organisations. What has always been considered to be male-dominated field will see the inspiring and strong women of India make their mark as well.

As a leading cultural icon in India, synonymous with art, fashion and cars, Michelle Poonawalla was selected as an artist to present her work at an exclusive preview for the members of the club. In an effort to pave the way for many more women-centric platforms and collaborations, Poonawalla shows us the power of the pack in a world where there has always been a boys’ club.

Supercars are the ultimate in motoring design and engineering and this collaboration ties together the dynamism and the beauty of Poonawalla’s art practice with some of the greatest cars in the country. Poonawalla’s signature motif of a butterfly represents a symbol of freedom and beauty complementing the speed and elegance of the cars on show.

The paintings in show include Cosmos which has been inspired by street art and graffiti; whilst taking her traditional motif, the work brings a new urban element incorporating bold colours and flowing patterns as groups of butterflies swarm together. Her work Graffiti Water Reflections depicts butterflies dancing over a pool of water. The abstract work features 3D butterflies and offers a poetic but bold image, highlighting the blues and whites of a turbulent body of water. The work creates a dramatic visual language incorporating sculptural features and a sense of dynamism. Other mixed media on canvas works Desert Rose I, Autumn Graffiti Flutters, Multi-Colour Graffiti Splash, and Raining Butterflies will also be on display.

“I am delighted to be able to show my artworks at the first Women’s Super Car drive in the country. For me, this collaboration is a great opportunity to showcase my body of work amongst the high quality motor engineering and luxury brands in India. Alongside my painting many people know my families’ passion for cars and it is a wonderful experience to see these two passions come together,” said Michelle Poonawalla.

Big Boy Toyz COO and Women’s Super Car Club of India founder Ritika Ahuja will kick off the drive at 8:30 AM with a champagne brunch and preview at their Gurgaon space for all the members of the club.

Michelle Poonawalla is an artist who lives and works between London, UK, and Pune, India. Her works explore universal, socially engaged topics that resonate with a diverse range of audiences, creating powerful memories and moving experiences. Her practice combines cutting-edge technology and traditional artistic mediums in an emotionally charged and poetic form; often utilizing sound, video mapping, projection, motion sensors and other techniques to bring her innovative paintings and installations to life.

Her piece, Introspection (2018), is a striking, immersive experiential artwork which leaves many viewers moved and affected, whilst inspiring them to take action in their own lives. The work has been exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery, London; Alserkal Avenue, Dubai Art Week, and the Kochi- Muziris Biennale. Poonawalla has recently begun exploring work with shorter digital format films. Her 3min 36 second film Circle of Life addresses the idea of memory and is exhibited at the 7th Mediations Biennale in Poland. Other digital works can be seen on SedtionArt.com and at the World Art Dubai, 2020.

Poonawalla is also actively involved in work supporting important causes in the environment and gender spaces. Recent projects have included Masks d’Art – a charitable initiative by Art for Concern to raise money for Covid-19 relief funds; Make Art for Mumbai’s Mangroves – a campaign that invited artists to help amplify the message of preserving Mumbai’s precious wetlands; Breakthrough – a charity working to stop discrimination and violence towards women and girls; and her work Monsoon Magic was shown as part of Elephant Parade in Jaipur and Mumbai in 2017.

Big Boy Toyz started in 2009 as a benchmark model for the Pre-Used, or Pre-Loved Car Brand. Their mission is to deliver a new dimension of luxury while standardizing & raising platforms for the used car market in India. Since their inception their primary aim has been their passion for delivering excellence which became their mission.

Founded by Jatin Ahuja, his passion for the industry saw him initiating his career at the young age of 17. With his dedication, relentless pursuit for impeccable service and vehemence Big Boy Toyz have seen him build Big Boy Toyz as one of the strongest names in the luxury automotive industry across the length & breadth of the country. Ritika Ahuja, COO of Big Boy Toyz and founder of the first Women’s Super Car Club of India, is deeply involved in the company’s marketing & merchandise strategies & efforts.