“The Spirit of Ecstasy continues to be our muse for the ongoing pursuit of excellence. She
embodies what we as the House of Rolls-Royce stand for: strive for perfection, attention to
detail and timeless beauty. It is fascinating to see our icon being transformed into these three
very unique expressions, pushing technical and conceptual boundaries. I would like to thank Bi
Rongrong, Ghizlane Sahli and Scarlett Yang for their extraordinary masterpieces celebrating a
different dimension of our iconic figurine, manifesting the exciting future of textile design.”
Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Muse, the Rolls-Royce Arts Programme celebrates the global debut of the artworks created by
the winners of the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge. These three unique pieces are being exhibited
at Cromwell Place, London, from 5 – 8 October 2022, before embarking on an international
tour.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge is a new biennial initiative that invites emerging artists from a
range of disciplines to create artworks inspired the Rolls-Royce icon – the beautiful figurine
that has adorned the bonnet of every motor car created by the marque since 1911. Each
edition of the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge will focus on a different medium, challenging
participants to push technical and conceptual boundaries. The inaugural 2022 edition explores
the potential of textiles, inviting artists to create textile-based artwork.
The winners – Bi Rongrong, Ghizlane Sahli and Scarlett Yang – developed three unique
interpretations of the Rolls-Royce symbol. As part of the creative process, the artists met
Rolls-Royce’s master craftspeople to exchange experiences before bringing their ideas and
innovative creations to life.
BI RONGRONG – STITCHED URBAN SKIN
Stitched Urban Skin (2022) is inspired by the multi-layered
landscape of cities and their mesmerising reflections on the
glossy surface of the Spirit of Ecstasy. Old and new are woven
together: the artwork consists of three suspended layers of two-
dimensional sheets made from specially treated metal, an
animated LED light sheet and a Perspex sheet incorporating a
material created using a traditional Chinese crochet technique.
The use of metal in the work is inspired by the Rolls-Royce car
surface and pays homage to the exceptional craftsmanship at
The Home of Rolls-Royce. The piece draws on Bi’s
encyclopaedic archive of urban imagery, utilising both ancient
craftsmanship and innovative technologies, interlacing different
locations and histories.
“This piece wasn’t inspired by a singular thing, it’s a blend of
patterns connected to cities and nature – the way they grow is
very similar. People see only what’s on the surface – the
architecture and the trees – but underneath are hidden
interwinding roots”, said Bi. She continued: “The Rolls-Royce
team gave me full artistic freedom, encouraging me to try new
things and be truly brave. I experimented and changed the
whole piece many times, which eventually made it even more
captivating. This experience has presented me with new
possibilities and opened up a different perspective which I will
bring into my future work”.
GHIZLANE SAHLI – NISSA’S RINA (WOMAN’S SONG)
Resembling two triumphant wings about to take flight,
Sahli’s artwork Nissa’s Rina (Woman’s Song) (2022) is a
joyous celebration of femininity and freedom. The artwork
explores the beauty of metamorphose and is composed
almost entirely of salvaged materials: plastic bottles, plastic
tubes, caps, covered with white silk and gold
threadpurchased from the artisans in Marrakech’s Medina
and copper embellished with gold leaf. For Nissa’s Rina
(Woman’s Song), Sahli adopts her signature technique of
wrapping cut bottles in thread, the “Alveoli”, and building up
each element into wing-like structures evocative of the Spirit
of Ecstasy.
“The Spirit of Ecstasy – that elegant, free woman who
crowns the most prestigious car in the world. A symbol of
power, she opens her wings to take flight, and rules the
world. What a synchronicity for me! She embodies
everything that I would like to express in my life today”, –
said Sahli. "Nissa’s Rina, Woman’s song, aims to express
the elegance, the femininity, and the freedom of the Spirit of
Ecstasy”.
SCARLETT YANG – TRANSIENT MATERIALITY (2022)
Scarlett Yang’s Transient Materiality (2022) is a hybrid work
that consists of a physical and digital piece. The 1-metre-high
sculpture is made of intertwining ribbons of synthetic
biopolymer produced with liquid particles collected from the
ocean and bound with algae photosynthetic organisms. The
sculpture’s form, surface and colour all reflect the natural
world: its unique texture was inspired the subtle intricacy of
animal skin patterns and the structural resilience of
translucent dragonfly wings. Made by pouring the liquid bio-
polymer into a 3D-fabricated mould, while the ribbons’ green
and purple hues were created through experiments with
spirulina and other natural components.
Suspended in the air, the piece mesmerizes with its
shimmering, iridescent qualities – an ethereal expression of
elegance, reminiscent of the flying gown of the Spirit of
Ghizlane Sahli, Nissa’s Rina (Woman’s Song),
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited. Registered in England and Wales. Company number 3522604. Registered address: Summit ONE, Summit Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 0FB.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its credit broking activities in the UK
Ecstasy. The accompanying digital element is a video
documentation of the creative process as well as digital
renderings of the sculpture, set to a futuristic soundscape.
“My work consists in exploring the physical properties that
nature gracefully offers and enhancing them through a
conscious and circular use of technology. The piece
‘Transient Materiality” is ultimately meant to embellish the
human body whilst serving a truly positive approach for the
future of design”, – commented Scarlett Yang.
The artists, invited to create their proposals for the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge, were
nominated by an international expert committee. Their submissions were reviewed by a
renowned jury consisting of Anders Warming, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars;
Yoon Ahn, Creative Director of AMBUSH�� and Director of Jewellery at Dior Men; Tim Marlow,
Chief Executive and Director at the Design Museum, London; and Sumayya Vally, Founder
and Principal at Counterspace Studio, Johannesburg. In April 2022 Muse announced the three
winners who were chosen to bring their concept to life with the Rolls-Royce support.
The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge is the second commissioning initiative of Muse. While the
Dream Commission supports artists working with moving-image art, the Spirit of Ecstasy
Challenge celebrating the endless creativity within the world of materials and craftsmanship.
Every two years, the Challenge will be repeated, each time exploring the limitless possibilities
of a different medium key to Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, with the Spirit of Ecstasy serving as a
point of inspiration.
