{"id":85791,"date":"2026-06-17T11:16:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=85791"},"modified":"2026-06-17T11:16:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:16:06","slug":"bmw-7-series-art-basel-symbiosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=85791","title":{"rendered":"BMW\u2019s Controversial 7 Series Becomes an Art Basel Museum Piece"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"post-summary-wrap\">\n<h3 class=\"post-summary-title\">Article Summary<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"post-summary-list\">\n<li>BMW is showcasing the G70 7 Series at Art Basel 2026 as part of A.A.Murakami\u2019s immersive SYMBIOSIS installation.<\/li>\n<li>The exhibit is inspired by BMW Symbiotic Drive, a Neue Klasse-era concept built around AI-assisted driver cooperation.<\/li>\n<li>The polarizing 7 Series may not be universally loved, but its bold, monolithic design makes it a natural fit for the art world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<p>To many, the current BMW 7 Series already vaguely resembles something you might see in a modern art exhibit. It certainly isn\u2019t traditionally beautiful. Its slab-like design, split headlights, and imposing (read: enormous) front grille give it an unmistakable aesthetic. So, perhaps its unsurprising to hear that the G70 7 Series has made its modern art debut in an exhibit running from June 15<sup>th<\/sup> until June 21<sup>st<\/sup> at Art Basel 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>The G70 Becomes a Museum Piece<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-1.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-514627\" title=\"7 SERIES ART BASEL SYMBIOSIS 1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-1-830x467.jpg\" alt=\"7 SERIES ART BASEL SYMBIOSIS 1\" width=\"830\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-1-830x467.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-1-1820x1024.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>BMW is using Art Basel in Basel 2026 to connect its Neue Klasse technology story with contemporary art. The company has partnered with A.A.Murakami \u2014 the London- and Tokyo-based duo of Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves \u2014 on SYMBIOSIS. The immersive art installation is inspired by BMW Symbiotic Drive, the Neue Klasse-era driver assistance concept built around closer cooperation between human intention and intelligent vehicle systems. Conceptually, Symbiotic Drive comprises AI-driven systems that anticipate the driver and enhance the driving experience.<\/p>\n<p>A.A.Murakami translates that idea into a physical, multi-sensory artwork. Rather than presenting technology as something purely digital, SYMBIOSIS uses engineered structures to create natural, unpredictable phenomena including bubbles, light, and mist. The point is the tension between control and surrender: machines initiate the experience, but airflow, gravity, temperature, entropy, and chance shape the final result. The artists call this approach \u201cEphemeral Tech.\u201d The artists: \u201cOnce a bubble is released into the air, its final form no longer belongs to the machine, it belongs to gravity, airflow, temperature, entropy and chance. That surrender is what symbiosis means to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>How the 7 Series Fits In<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-514628\" title=\"7 SERIES ART BASEL SYMBIOSIS 2\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-2-830x467.jpg\" alt=\"7 SERIES ART BASEL SYMBIOSIS 2\" width=\"830\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-2-830x467.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-2-1820x1024.jpg 1820w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7-Series-Art-Basel-SYMBIOSIS-2.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>BMW itself describes the BMW 760e xDrive \u2014 the car featured in the exhibit \u2014 as the perfect fit. \u201cIts monolithic design, interior, driving experience and craftsmanship will be the ultimate completion of its generation,\u201d the brand says. Its perhaps debatable that the G70 BMW 7 Series\u2019 design never really landed as a \u201chit\u201d with the masses. However, its application here is extremely fitting. Unmistakable design and presence fits right into the art world.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, SYMBIOSIS is far from BMW\u2019s first escapade into the art world. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/tag\/bmw-art-cars\/\">BMW Art Cars<\/a> are a huge part of the brand\u2019s heritage, a veritable who\u2019s-who of legendary artists. The cars aren\u2019t bad, too, with Art Cars ranging from the E31 8 Series to the E30 M3 and more. SYMBIOSIS is arguably a bit more controversial. Even after an LCI, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2026\/04\/24\/bmw-7-series-lci-wave-of-brand-firsts\/\">G70 7 Series<\/a> is decidedly a more polarizing design, but the subject matter may also raise some eyebrows. The exhibit\u2019s esoteric ties to AI assistance aren\u2019t perhaps the most immediately accessible ideology in the art world. On the other hand, some say good art makes you think. At least by that metric, SYMBIOSIS is worth checking out. If you find yourself in Switzerland in the next week, stop by Art Basel and see the exhibit for yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Article Summary BMW is showcasing the G70 7 Series at Art Basel 2026 as part of A.A.Murakami\u2019s immersive SYMBIOSIS installation. The exhibit is inspired by BMW Symbiotic Drive, a Neue Klasse-era concept built around AI-assisted driver cooperation. The polarizing 7 Series may not be universally loved, but its bold, monolithic design makes it a natural [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":85792,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85791"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85791\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/85792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}