These awesomely surreal artworks give Porsche a whole new dimension
Digital artist Chris Labrooy takes us on a journey into the surreal with Porsche 911 inspired CGI creations.Art and cars together as one is nothing new as is evident by BMW's Art Car series, but as our world becomes more digital and technologically advanced, it appears that art does imitate life. For 40-year-old Scotsman Labrooy, art and cars together is also where his two passions collide.
Having studied product design at the Royal College of Art in London, the young graduate became increasingly captivated by the digital world, which combined his knowledge and understanding of tactile objects with an emerging allure for surrealism.
“I transitioned into the digital world after seeing the advances in technology there,” Labrooy explains. “I moved from making tangible, physical objects to making photorealistic images. What I managed to do in the digital world was capture those objects – render them in a realistic way – but with CGI and all these new digital tools, there was no limit to my imagination. I could create any environment and place any single object into that context.”
Porsche fans may already be familiar with Labrooy’s works which has seen him take a classic 911 and alter it into dreamy, desert landscapes. Palm Springs with its mid-century architecture in particular is a favourite location for these creations to be based in.
“I like to juxtapose different elements and am always searching for those moments of happiness. Something like an inflatable flamingo or a swimming pool really symbolise happiness for me, so I always like to have those elements in my images and animation.”
The landscape and environment of these Palm Springs locations couldn’t be further from Labrooy’s home in regional Scotland. Often a cold and harsh environment, the heat and bright colours of Palm Springs is a massive juxtaposition with the digital world allowing for complete escapism.
Labrooy says that this contrast is vital, and if not for his move back home to Scotland after spending some time living in California, it wouldn’t have become such a feature in his work. But why the cars? Especially an old classic like an air-cooled Porsche.
“I’ve always been into cars, ever since I was a small boy. I’d play with them, then I would draw them, then drive them in computer games. Even as a youngster I was fascinated by the design of cars. I remember seeing an episode of Top Gear where they went to the Royal College of Art and from the next day onwards I was telling my friends that that was where I wanted to go. To study car design.”
The realities of going to an art college meant that Labrooy’s attention took a scenic route through other art forms including painting and sculpture. While car design took a back seat for a while, an increasing focus on product design meant that cars would make a return. “Of all consumer products, cars are the ultimate object of desire. They are such complex things, with unique and very specific identities.”
Labrooy’s unusual and unique aesthetic utilising digital CGI forms was sought out by international brands such as British Airways, Nike and Apple which allowed him to eventually indulge his passion for cars in the physical world buying a Cayman. “I ran that car for two years, but I wanted more. I looked through the classifieds and eventually bought a 981 GT4.”
“Once I owned a Porsche I became more aware of the brand and its motorsport pedigree, and really curious about the 911. It’s a very soft, rounded shape that’s a highly capable, high-performance sports car at the same time. The 911 has a unique, almost eccentric personality. When I’m making my images, the cars are like actors in a way, and the 911 is like an A-list Hollywood star, with all this depth and versatility.”
Today, Labrooy drives a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 in Guards Red. “It’s the perfect car for my lifestyle because I work from home I don’t have to commute, so the majority of my driving is for pure pleasure and the Cayman is ideal for that. We’re blessed with amazing roads here and its compact enough to really fit the environment and the landscape.”
You can check out more of Chris Labrooy’s work on his website or on his Instagram page where you'll also spot a few other car brands given the surreal CGI treatment too.
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