His art works have assisted in driving millions of potential customers to web sites and encouraging viral tidal waves on the internet – his paintings created the first ever visual art viral storm on the internet.
Hyundai has invited Wenner to participate in the launch of their new car, the Veloster, in the South African market. This campaign will prove how his exciting art works will very quickly carry Hyundai’s message to the public as it not only wows the crowds in shopping centres across the nation, but also gathers massive momentum on a viral level.
ABOUT KURT WENNER
With an international following, Wenner is best known as the founding father of 3D pavement art and has inspired other artists to take up the same technique.
He was commissioned to produce his first art work, a mural, at the age of 16. Soon after he was earning a living as a graphic artist. He attended both Rhode Island School of Design and Art Center College of Design in the United States, before working for NASA, where he was an advanced scientific illustrator, creating conceptual paintings of future space projects and extraterrestrial landscapes.
In 1982 he left NASA, sold all of his belongings and moved to Italy to study figurative drawing and art. Wenner lived a stone's throw from the Pantheon in the heart of Rome, where he studied the drawings, paintings, and sculptures of the old masters in Rome's best known museums.
Over the years his work became known throughout the country and in 1991 he was commissioned to create a piece to honour the visit of Pope John Paul II to the city of Mantua.
In 1986 Wenner first introduced 3D pavement art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Shortly after that he founded the first street painting festival in the United States at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara, California. The Old Mission festival, also known as I Madonnari, continues to this day as do many other festivals and events Wenner started across the country.
One often overlooked fact of Wenner's career is that he dedicated one month every year, for 10 years, to teach more than 100 000 students from elementary through university level how to work with chalks and pastels. For his dedication, he was awarded the Kennedy Center Medallion for his outstanding contribution to arts education.
Wenner enjoys a career in fine art painting, sculpture, decorative stucco relief, ceramic murals, architectural designing and numerous images for publicity and advertising, his latest creation being his book Asphalt Renaissance, which documents the history of pavement art and his role in transforming it from a dying tradition to a dynamic multi-dimensional art form.
Wenner and his art works have appeared in some impressive documentaries, including the 1987 award-winning National Geographic documentary “Masterpieces in Chalk”. He also created a print advertisement for Absolut Vodka as part of the brand’s prestigious artist ad series. The ad is known as Absolut Wenner and the creation of the image was produced as a television commercial.
Then, in 2010 Greenpeace called for a ban of genetically modified crops and presented the European Union members in Brussels with 1 million signatures along with a 22 m by 22 m 3D Wenner image. The giant composition set a world record for the largest image of its kind drawn by a single person.
Wenner lives in the United States. His works have been seen in 30 countries, and he creates works for clients all over the world.
ABOUT HYUNDAI’S VELOSTER:
The innovative spirit of the fast-growing Hyundai Motor Company and its comprehensive range of vehicles will be celebrated soon by the unveiling of the Hyundai Veloster – a novel approach to the compact coupé segment with an unique third door.
The all-new Veloster – with a new 1.6-litre direct-injected four-cylinder petrol engine mated to Hyundai’s first EcoShift™ dual-clutch transmission – brings to a younger customer group a “2 1 door” coupé design with the functionality of a hatch back and a passenger-side forward-hinged rear door for easy rear-seat access.
The Veloster with its perky 1.6-litre GDI Gamma engine will add even more variety to Hyundai’s comprehensive range of new models – including the recently launched all-new i30 and i20 hatchbacks, the Elantra and Accent sedans and their bigger sibling the Sonata, the smaller i10 hatchback, and the ix35 and Santa Fe SUVs.
The Veloster delivers innovation to the compact coupé segment with its 2 1 door configuration for easy rear-seat access and is a perfect example of the company’s brand slogan: New Thinking. New Possibilities.
The 4,22 m sports-coupé Veloster is destined to give young, progressive buyers a sleek and distinctive design in an innovative three-door coupé form that provides practicality as well as driving pleasure. Hyundai expects the Veloster’s unique combination of style, practicality and economy to re-shape its segment and attract new buyers to the brand.
Design inspired by nature
The Veloster represents Hyundai’s unique design language, “fluidic sculpture”. This Hyundai design DNA is recognizable by flowing lines inspired by nature which combine to create an innovative form, underpinned by strong proportions and a sense of movement and balance. Not only does the design of Veloster offer emotional appeal, but its fundamental aerodynamics ensure a smooth exterior profile, which reduces fuel consumption.
The car’s lines are bold and dynamic, with tough-looking shapes and polished graphics. The hexagonal radiator grille and audacious lamp design express progression and modernity, while the 2 1 door configuration maximizes practicality. The sleek profile of Veloster conveys sportiness and a unique styling very different from existing coupés and hatchbacks.
The door configuration for Veloster has been adapted for right-hand-drive markets, ensuring that customers not only benefit from the great practicality of the rear door but also from high levels of occupant safety.
Powertrains
The Veloster sports coupé will be powered by a lively, efficient 1,6-litre four-cylinder GDI petrol engine, generating 103 kW. Buyers will be offered a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or the company’s first dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
The new DCT builds on the benefits of a manual gearbox, including low fuel consumption and engaging driving characteristics, by adding the advantages of a traditional automatic transmission, such as high comfort levels (particularly during city driving), and super-smooth shift quality. Other benefits of the DCT include a 5 to 6% improvement in fuel efficiency, as well as a 3 to 7% improvement in acceleration.
The GDI engine also benefits from lightweight aluminium construction and an offset crankshaft that reduces frictional energy losses.
Hyundai has continuously highlighted its commitment to lead the way along the road to long-term environmental sustainability for the auto industry, and Veloster furthers the company’s commitment to delivering economical and fun-to-drive models.
Safety
The Veloster uses the latest active and passive safety technologies to ensure maximum occupant safety at all times. These safety features deploy under all conditions and road surfaces. Active safety features, fitted as standard in several countries, include Vehicle Stability Management (which provides shorter braking distances and secure handling on uneven road surfaces), Electronic Stability Control, ABS/TCS (Traction Control System) and a Brake Assist System.
The Veloster has six airbags – a driver and passenger airbag, curtain airbags and side airbags –and a strengthened, rigid safety cell for its occupants to ensure their safety in the event of an accident.
Hyundai’s Veloster continued the company’s excellent safety record by obtaining the maximum 5-star result under the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
Wenner will be creating his incredible bespoke artworks to highlight the new Hyundai Veloster on the following dates:
The Zone, Rosebank, Johannesburg – 26th March 2013
The Barrow Court, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town – 2nd April 2013
The Gateway Shopping Centre, Durban – 5th April 2013
For more information about Wenner’s art and the Hyundai Veloster campaign visit www.hyundai.co.za or www.kurtwenner.com
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