#USA #Miami #Patina Collective #Jesse Draxler #The Machine of Loving Grace

The Fusion of Art and Automotive Culture

In an innovative fusion of art and automotive culture, The Patina Collective has partnered with acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Jesse Draxler to unveil an unparalleled immersive installation titled "C280: The Machine of Loving Grace". This groundbreaking project will premier at Art Basel Miami, showcasing Draxler's unique approach to intertwining the fine arts with the mechanics of a vehicle.

The Concept Behind C280

The centerpiece of this installation is Draxler's own 1997 Mercedes C280, which has been transformed into both a subject and an instrument, shifting the perception of what a car can embody. The installation reimagines a 3,000-mile cross-country journey, highlighting the interplay between human emotions and mechanical presence, thus emphasizing an exploration of phenomenology in travel.

Creating a hybrid environment that functions as both a sanctuary and an industrial apparatus, the installation utilize LED walls, moving-image projections, and various rare automobiles to enrich the visitor experience. Through this artistic lens, the project investigates aspects of travel, the flow of time spent on highways, and how our internal thoughts merge with mechanics.

Daniel Hassan, the founder of The Patina Collective, expressed enthusiasm for the installation, suggesting that it would capture attention from both the art and automotive communities: "The Patina Collective has been collaborating with artists since our inception, and we know this installation with Jesse Draxler will have both the art community and car community talking for years to come."

A Personal Journey of Creation

Draxler's upbringing in rural Wisconsin, filled with experiences in fabrication and improvisation, plays a crucial role in the conceptual grounding of C280. The Mercedes serves as a symbolic figure within this context, bridging the gap between common functionality and the rarity of high-end automotive design. By displaying the C280 alongside unique vehicles from The Patina Collective's archive, the exhibit creates a compelling narrative that juxtaposes the mundane with the extraordinary.

The title, "The Machine of Loving Grace", pays homage to 1990s industrial music and contains layers of meaning reflecting emotional complexity in technology. Draxler articulates that the phrase captures the nuanced relationship between precision and human empathy—an elaborate balance that defines much of contemporary life.

Artistic Philosophy and Exploration

The installation extends Draxler’s ongoing exploration of fragmentation and personal mythology, themes that have recurred in his body of work, including previous projects like CRASH and C2ASH. Rather than indulging in automotive fetishism, C280 situates the car within the context of lived experience, thereby transforming it into a stage where identity, memory, and physical motion converge.

Draxler carries a significant connection to Mercedes-Benz, resonating with shared philosophies regarding art and technology’s confluence. The vehicle's carefully calibrated responsiveness can be seen as a symbol of Draxler's collage work, where the X-Acto blade becomes not just a tool, but an extension of creative precision and intervention. This fusion supports the idea of the drive as a journey not only through space but through the self, allowing for conceptual depth in the installation.

A Cinematic Journey

A pivotal aspect of the exhibit is its video component, built from real-time footage captured during the road trip. Draxler treats the camera as part of his sensory experience, documenting landscapes and motion as they occur, resulting in footage that emphasizes subjectivity, showing the varied feelings and thoughts encountered during the journey.

Ultimately, C280 operates as a form of self-portraiture, inspired by movement, distance, and the inevitable return. The editing process of this footage creates a reflection on former versions of the self, with the Mercedes representing an ongoing introspection and continuity in Draxler's artistic journey.

Visiting the Installation

Expecting a rich experience that bridges art, identity, and automotive culture, the installation will be located at 401 NW 79th St. Miami, FL. The public exhibition opens its doors after a media preview on December 3, 2025, running through the following days:

• - Friday, December 4: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• - Saturday, December 5: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• - Sunday, December 6: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

For art enthusiasts and car lovers alike, this exhibition presents not just an artistic endeavor but a profound commentary on modern existence through the lens of travel and technology. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to engage with Jesse Draxler's intriguing world where art and machines collide!

To learn more about The Patina Collective, visit patinacollective.com and check out Jesse Draxler's works at jessedraxler.com.