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Oh yay, the Mini, the most popular British car ever built and a true British icon, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2019.
I had a Mini called Mabel. It was an estate version. By then I was a mum with four kids at various schools. In we’d pile every morning, and off we’d go, zipping along the dual carriageway into Chester where we lived then. If felt like zipping, because – well why? Was it just close to the ground, or did it really zip? ‘Him Indoors’ came one day, because his BMW was in for a service. In we all squashed, school bags, school kids, a business man and me. It was like Toad’s family roaring along, being hooligans, or so said ‘Him Indoors’ gripping the door handle and shrieking to slow down. But I was only doing the speed of the others, and that was under the speed limit. It was just such a joyous zip zip car. I adored it, we all did, and it’s the only car we ever named.
The original Mini ranked fourth in a poll of British design icons organised by the BBC and the Design Museum; it has had starring roles in films like The Italian Job and at the London 2012 Olympic Games; it has gone racing; it has been a troop transporter; and has won the hearts of many millions across the globe for six decades.
Now, the Birmingham-built classic is the inspiration for a new series of arresting pop art-style art works launched by world-leading art agency, Thomas Crown Art (TCA).
International art dealer at TCA, Stephen Howes, comments: “The Mini, the greatest success story that the British motor industry has ever known, was never meant to be an icon.
“It was meant to be practical and efficient.”
He continues: “But with its unconventional looks, its daring-to-be-different charm, its personality, and its design, the Mini was cool from the very beginning.
“From the moment it was launched in 1959, there was a coolness about it that has endured and undoubtedly grown over the last six decades.
“It’s place as a true, mould-breaking British icon was cemented in the epicentre of the Swinging Sixties and has been galvanised in the 21st century’s Cool Britannia movement.”
Oh, Mr Howes, if only I’d known all this, I could have refuted the Toad hooligan label with aplomb, and I never realised I was, ,for once in my life, ‘COOL’.
Mr Howes goes on to add: “How could we not celebrate this timeless, fun-loving legend as it prepares to celebrate its diamond anniversary? And who better than Birmingham-born artist Gary O’Neil?
“These bright, arresting, highly original and collectable mixed-media pieces encapsulate the spirit of the Mini. They have an electrifying sense of freshness about them and have their origins in the 1960s pop art scene.”
For his part, artist Gary O’Neil, explains: “Like a lot of people, I’m quite nostalgic about the Mini. My parents owned several, and I had one for my first car. More recently, I bought myself a “Cooper S” which I love to drive.
“We thought it would be great to recognise the Mini’s 60th birthday by producing some artwork. I decided to enhance the paintings using old tax discs, and to emulate the dominant style of art from the period. I think the result of painting the iconic Mini in the pop art style works really well.”
Stephen Howes concludes: “Against the backdrop of Britain quitting the EU, the Mini, which embodies all that is cool about Britain, celebrates its 60th birthday. With these collectors’ pieces of art we’re looking to continue to ride the wave of Cool Britannia into the future.”
The Mini series by Gary O’Neil is available globally and can be viewed here.
