In the world of motorsport, where speed and precision often take center stage, it's not so common to witness a collaboration that marries the adrenaline of the racetrack with the worlds of contemporary art and fashion. However, that's exactly what's set to unfold at the 2024 Goodwood Revival, as Daniel Arsham and Team Ikuzawa unveil their bespoke-livery Porsche 904 GTS alongside an exclusive capsule collection.
A Fusion of Art and Racing Heritage
Daniel Arsham, an artist renowned for his exploration of future relics and fictional archaeology, has long been fascinated by the intersection of art and automotive culture. His collaboration with Team Ikuzawa, led by Mai Ikuzawa, the daughter of legendary Japanese racer Tetsu Ikuzawa, is a testament to the deep ties both creatives share with motorsport and more specifically the Porsche brand.
The partnership takes shape around the iconic Porsche 904, a car with a storied past, owned by Jota co-owner David Clark and powered by JOTA Sport. The vehicle is adorned with a unique livery that blends elements from both Arsham's and Team Ikuzawa’s design languages and is set to be raced side by side with Tetsu Ikuzawa's 1967 Japanese Grand Prix winner 906.
"Daniel’s deep understanding of 'the car' and its culture, combined with his artistic principle of futurism and our Japanese racing heritage, formed the basis of our initial sketches and discussions," shared Ikuzawa in a conversation with Hypebeast. The result is a car that not only nods to the minimalist branding of the original 1980s Team Ikuzawa but also incorporates motifs from Arsham’s early works, like the lunar phase, juxtaposed with the sun — a symbol central to Tetsu Ikuzawa's identity.
For Arsham, the collaboration was an opportunity to explore his fascination with the cyclical nature of time, a theme that permeates much of his work. "The idea of the moon, the idea of cycles... Mai was keen to integrate those elements into the universe of the design," Arsham shared with Hypebeast.
It's worth noting, however, that red is not a color often used in Arsham's works. This is due to the fact that he only sees approximately 20 percent of the colors and shades a person can normally distinguish. Arsham further explained "It doesn't mean that I can't identify what red is but my doctor has explained to me that the red that I'm seeing looks different from the red that everyone else is seeing. The key point is that the variation in color, in the red-green spectrum, for me is dramatically reduced. So I may not see as much variation in color."
Despite this fact, the artist has used the color red in a few of his works, including the Angle of Repose: Lunar Cycle series, which is a significant reference for his collaboration with Team Ikuzawa. Arsham notes that the color recalls for him the Japanese flag and the significant design history of the region as well as Swiss mid-century design — adding that the choice of a red and white palette fit the car perfectly.
Further touching on the significant heritage at play, Ikuzawa expressed "I re-issued and honored the original 1980s designs my father originally produced. On the racing side, I have huge ambitions and it will be the core of the brand but I want to ensure we show motorsports through the experiences I had growing up, all about the team spirit — without the goodwill and the passion of the people none of this is possible or fun!"
Beyond the motorsport aspect, it's worth noting that Ikuzawa's lineage is also packed with creative DNA, as she expressed that her grandfather was a successful artist and that his creativity has been passed down through the generations. "That’s why my father was able to design such stunning and impactful designs and branding on race liveries," she stated. As Ikuzawa takes on the team as a brand today, she expressed that she will utilize her background as a creative director and previous owner of a London-based design agency to bring the art world, design, product, music and other modern influences to the family heritage racing team.
Goodwood Revival: The Perfect Stage
The decision to debut this collaboration at the Goodwood Revival was a natural one. Known as the world’s greatest historic motoring event, Goodwood Revival is more than just a race; it's an immersive celebration of vintage lifestyle and craftsmanship, making it the ideal backdrop for a project that seeks to reimagine heritage for the future.
For Ikuzawa, Goodwood holds a special place in her heart. "The Goodwood Revival stands out as the world's best event because it uniquely transports attendees back to the golden age of motorsport, style, and culture," she says. Having driven her father’s 1967 Japan Grand Prix-winning Porsche 906 at last year’s event, she is well aware of the symbolic significance of returning with the 904, especially under the banner of such a groundbreaking collaboration.
She further expressed that the Duke of Richmond — whose estate is Goodwood — has been a close friend, mentor and a huge support of her automotive career over the years. "I was lucky enough to bring Daniel to Goodwood Revival in 2021, of course, he fell in love straight away. Equally, beyond motorsports, The Duke of Richmond has a deep appreciation for art and style and this three-way friendship made it the ultimate location for the project," she explained.
Sharing more on his first time at Goodwood Revival, Arsham said that it was "one of the most incredible automotive performative fashion experiences," he had ever attended. What makes the collaboration even more significant, is that it is the first time ever at Goodwood that period racing liveries were allowed to be modified and that a world-class artist was brought together with a Japanese heritage racing team. With the project having been months in the making, it's soon to reach its culmination and make its mark on history as the 904 races around Goodwood, driven by former F1 driver and five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro and his son, Goffredo Pirr.
The Collection
Beyond the racetrack, the collaboration extends into the realm of fashion with an exclusive capsule collection that reflects the unique aesthetic of both Arsham and Ikuzawa. The collection includes a range of meticulously designed items, from a white denim varsity jacket adorned with ornately embroidered patches to a trunk bag and engine lid badge, each piece carefully crafted to embody the fusion of Japanese motorsport heritage and contemporary streetwear.
Ikuzawa expressed particular pride in the collection, noting how it was designed to transcend typical racing merch. "Throughout the designs, we used heritage branding in a contemporary streetwear language, and I think it works really well," she shared.
Both Ikuzawa and Arsham highlighted the engine lid badge as one of their favorite items from the collaboration, with Ikuzawa also expressing her love for the Japanese white denim pit crew jacket, which she noted features the Goodwood royal crests for the first time ever on a collaborative apparel item.
All of the items in the collection will be primarily available at the Goodwood Revival event from September 6 to 8, with an online release expected to follow via Team Ikuzawa's official site. As the collaborative Porsche 904 takes to the track and makes history, we can only assume that it and this capsule will be well received and that this is only the start of something more. Looking ahead, Ikuzawa shared "I'd love for this to be the first of a few race teams we create together! There are several automotive brands we would love to work with and create a new wave."
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