Mini wears Bisazza

Travel is a recurrent theme throughout the Bisazza Foundation. So is a sense of fun. Both come together in a droll and dazzling fashion in the Mini wears Bisazza collection, first premiered at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2005. For the occasion, one of the world’s most iconic cars was dressed in a multitude of mosaics.

Since its creation in the late-fifties, the nippy little Mini has brought gratification to generations of drivers. To give it a novel twist, five iconic Bisazza motifs were re-designed to perfectly fit the contours of its bodywork. Drawn largely from the world of clothing, they include the sporty “Dama” checkerboard pattern that is a wink to the black and white flags used to signal the finish of Formula 1 races, as well as a perky tartan that pays homage to the Mini’s British origins. The romantic “Summer Flowers,” meanwhile, reflects a more feminine sensibility. The latter two are currently on display at the Bisazza Foundation.

The major challenge was to clad the cars without altering their line or image. A special trowel was created to spread the glue evenly and up to 37,000 tesserae applied to each vehicle, requiring the skill of two master mosaicists over the course of several days. The results are not only striking and sassy, but extremely exclusive. All five models are not-for-sale designer one-offs. Still, motor enthusiasts should not feel too frustrated, for these cars are going nowhere. Uniquely for show, they are not actually fitted with an engine!