damien hirst designs audi AI for charity

audi AI designed by damien hirst

british artist damien hirst designed an audi AI for sir elton john’s AIDS foundation (EJAF) white tie and tiara ball, which the musician and his partner david furnish host each year at their old windsor residence. german auto company audi sponsored the car for the auction, making it the eighth consecutive year that the company has supported the AIDS charity event. this year, hirst’s AI was auctioned off for 420 000 euros.

‘that’s the most exciting object we’ve ever had on auction at the white tie. damien hirst is considered one of great britain’s most important modern artists, and his works have earned record sums at sotheby’s.’ – sir elton john

hirst spin painted the completely drivable glossy candyfloss pink A1 in his studio in gloucestershire, england, specifically for the white tie and tiara auction. the car was auctioned together with a 1.80-meter high spin painting on canvas, which hirst created at the same time.

sir elton john and david furnish with damien hirst’s A1

the audi A1 is so new that it will not be available on UK roads until november 2010. hirst’s special artwork was created in advance of the car’s mainland european release dates. the car is an example of the compact hatchback produced in close collaboration with audi AG in germany, which has been engineering the production for more than six months. the A1 design by damien hirst is the most exclusive donation that audi has ever made.

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