VUSE* AND McLAREN RACING MARK WORLD FIRST AHEAD OF 2021 ABU
DHABI GRAND PRIX
ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An emerging
artist has had her work spotlighted for the world to see, featured
on one of the fastest-moving canvases on earth.
McLaren Racing has today unveiled a one-off livery ahead of
the FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU
DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021, working with long-standing partner
Vuse, the number one global vape brand** to give creative control
of the livery to an up-and-coming, female, UAE-based
artist.
The design of McLaren Racing's 2021 livery for the Abu Dhabi race marks the first time a piece of
original art has appeared on a livery during a Grand Prix™ and
celebrates the first time a female artist from the Middle East has been given this kind of
opportunity. The artist, Rabab
Tantawy, has used her passion for union, community, and
heritage to inspire and inform the artwork for the livery,
incorporating her Nubian Series*** with McLaren Racing's iconic
papaya and blue colourway.
Driven by her love of art, Rabab taught herself different
artistry techniques, ranging from traditional mediums like oil
painting to modern approaches such as spray-paints. Featuring
Rabab's Nubian figures, the livery artwork represents togetherness
and 'the world as one' – two themes Rabab is passionate about
exploring in her work both on and off the canvas.
Working with the assistance of automotive media designer,
Davide Virdis, Rabab's work on the
livery forms part of Vuse's recently announced Driven by
Change initiative, which sees grassroots creative talent given
unparalleled opportunities in motorsport to showcase their
work.
Rabab Tantawy comments:
"Never would I have imagined being given an opportunity like
this. Coming from a family of racing fans, seeing one of my
original artworks racing on track is one of the most incredible
things to happen in my career – and an even more amazing feat being
the first female, Middle Eastern artist to do so."
"Providing opportunities and platforms for unestablished
artists in the Middle East is
something I'm passionate about. Being named the first creative in
Vuse's Driven by Change initiative hopefully marks the first of
many examples of up-and-coming creative talent in motorsport
showcasing their work, passions and values on the world stage. I
look forward to being a part of these moments for others."
The Driven by Change initiative will see Vuse use their
partnership with McLaren Racing to provide opportunities for other
underrepresented creatives to champion their work and passions
across various platforms. These creators from around the world will
be offered opportunities like that of Rabab's in Abu Dhabi from which they can help drive
change within the world of motorsport.
John Beasley, Group Head of
Brand Building, BAT, comments: "We want to really
focus on providing support and opportunities for talent as we
further champion the diversity of people and skills in the creative
world. Rabab has been an incredible talent to work with for the
launch of the programme, with her passion for diversity and
togetherness, and artistic skill set to transform the track in
Abu Dhabi. We look forward to
working with Rabab further as she helps us continue to influence
change in not only motorsport, but the creative industry as a
whole."
The initiative forms part of Vuse's ongoing ambition to
celebrate undiscovered creative talent, working with McLaren Racing
to identify opportunities to bring their work to life, helping
introduce creatives from diverse backgrounds to the masses. Rabab's
artwork will be featured at the final race of the year, the FORMULA
1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND
PRIX 2021, taking place on Sunday 12 December, where Lando Norris and Daniel
Ricciardo will race Rabab's artwork around the famed final
track of the season.
Vuse has previously worked with creatives in motorsport,
including St. Petersburg's artist,
Ya La'ford, who painted an IndyCar for the Vuse Deign Challenge at
the Firestone Grand Prix™ earlier this year.
Vuse also engaged streetwear brand Undefeated, who designed the
bespoke livery for the No.7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet for the
2021 Indianapolis 500.
To discover more about Rabab's story, visit Vuse and Rabab's
social channels. Further information on the Driven by Change
initiative and how creatives can get involved will be shared in
2022.
Notes to Editors:
About BAT
BAT is a leading, multi-category consumer goods business with a
purpose to build A Better Tomorrow by reducing the health impact of
its business through offering a greater choice of enjoyable and
less risky products for adult consumers. The company continues to
be clear that combustible cigarettes pose serious health risks, and
the only way to avoid these risks is not to start or to quit. BAT
encourages those who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch
completely to scientifically-substantiated, reduced-risk
alternatives*. In order to deliver this, BAT is transforming into a
truly consumer-centric multi-category consumer products business.
BAT employs over 53,000 people and operates in over 180 countries,
with 11 million points of sale and 45 factories in 43 markets. The
company's Strategic Portfolio is made up of its global cigarette
brands and a growing range of reduced-risk* New Category tobacco
and nicotine products and traditional non-combustible tobacco
products. These include vapour, tobacco heating products, modern
oral products including tobacco-free nicotine pouches, as well as
traditional oral products such as snus and moist snuff. In 2020, we
had 13.5 million consumers of our non-combustible products, a rise
of 3 million on the year before. The BAT Group generated revenue of
£25.8 billion in 2020 and profit from operations of £9.9
billion.
*Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch
from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk free and are
addictive.
** Based on Vype/Vuse estimated value share from RRP in measured
retail for vapour (i.e. total vapour category value in retail
sales) in the USA, Canada, France, UK, Germany. These 5 markets cover an estimated
77% of global vapour closed system NTO, calculated in June –July
2021.
About McLaren Racing
McLaren Racing was founded by New
Zealand racing driver Bruce
McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race
in 1966, since then McLaren has won 20 Formula 1 world
championships, more than 180 Formula 1 grands prix, the Le Mans 24
Hours at its first attempt and the Indianapolis 500 three times. McLaren Racing
currently competes in Formula 1 globally and INDYCAR in the
US. Z
The team is contesting the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship
with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, and in the 2021 INDYCAR Series
with Arrow McLaren SP drivers Pato
O'Ward and Felix Rosenqvist.
McLaren was the first F1 team to be certified carbon neutral ten
years ago and has successfully retained the Carbon Trust Standard
Award, most recently in February
2021. They were also the first team to be awarded the FIA
Institute's Environmental Award in 2013, which they have
consistently maintained at three-star level.z
In 2022, McLaren Racing will enter a new category of motorsport
when it enters a team into Extreme E, the innovative all-electric
off-road racing series that highlights the impact of climate
change.
About Rabab Tantawy
*** In this series Rabab Tantawy
explores the need of human nature to connect with heritage and
community by taking as a matter of study the Nubian culture.
Born in 1971 in Cairo Rabab Tantawy grew up watching her mother
draw and create. Although she did not pursue an artistic career
from the get-go, Rabab always kept an interest in the arts and
taught herself different techniques, ranging from very traditional
mediums like oil painting to modern ones like spray-paints.
When Tantawy decided to dedicate herself to the arts she got
involved in several exhibitions while also actively pursuing street
art.
Working with a multitude of mediums the artist created a playful
approach to the otherwise serious concepts that ground her work.
Her biggest focus is on union, community, and heritage.
While often we can see artists approach these subjects from a
political point of view, Rabab tries to bridge the gap and render
these subjects through the lens of universality.
Rabab is an intuitive artist. She doesn't work with preliminary
sketches; she uses the canvas as a support for direct download.
There's no expectation for a final product. In a way the product is
the process of creation itself.
Line and colour are the pillars of Tantawy's work. Be it
abstract or figurative the artist's work starts from line. The
lines function as a skeleton, informing the whole process of the
artwork in the making. Be it soft flowing lines or strong angular
ones, this step sets the rhythm of the work. While a lot of artists
are choosing to work with limited colour palettes, Tantawy switches
from classical earthy colours to strong neon colours in the same
series with the same ease she switches between mediums.
Photo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1702135/BAT_Rabab_Tantawy.jpg