A race car is truly a work of art. So how do you make art on it? This was the challenge and challenge faced by contemporary Indian artist Raghava KK, when he set out to transform a Ferrari 296 GT3. Bengaluru-based Raghava, known for his hand-drawn, digital and mixed media art, created a “hero backstory” for Mumbai-based Dr Shriram Nene, a cardiothoracic surgeon and healthcare innovator, his wife, actor Madhuri Dixit Nene, and their sons Arin and Ryan, on their Ferrari.
Raghava, who has known the Nene family for over a decade, explains how this machine became his muse, speed meets storytelling, “We had a wonderful collaborator in the UK-based automotive designer, Keith Wood (of Hype Creative, a motorsport graphic design company), who gave me the rules of the look. First, we made 2D and 3D renderings. On a white base, I designed the motifs, elements and color palette, some hand-painted and others digital. The entire artwork was transferred onto vinyl leather covering Car body.
Raghava KK | Image source: special arrangement
In the center is Raghava’s distinctive double-headed tiger, which symbolizes the tension between geometry and emotion. When placed on a Ferrari, it becomes an Indian aesthetic in motion. “The two-headed tiger is a model I created to bring together the contradictions of man. It embodies duality. Seeing the tiger stretched out on top of a Ferrari built for extreme speed feels like releasing the spirit of India onto the world stage. We also have an inherently Indian sign indicating ‘Yes’ near the trunk,” says the artist.
The tiger’s tail finds an echo across the trunk Image source: special arrangement
Portraits of Albert Einstein and Iron Man hang on the sides, reflecting a fascination with thought and imagination, while lavender gently drifts across the surface, echoing nature, desire and value. The tiger’s tail resonates across the torso as it hangs above the lines. “Also, throughout the artwork, Nene’s children appear as part of the narrative, suggesting a future generation that will grow up with a global, flexible, and self-created identity,” says Raghava. This paint design grew out of years of shared conversations – about technology, art and film – between artist and family.
Dr. Nene’s Pathfinder Project is also on the car | Image source: special arrangement
For Dr. Nene, this collaboration was special. He explains how conversations with the artist translated into elements on the car, “He (Raghava) has Albert Einstein holding a spark plug. He has the boys in their different avatars, and one of my new projects called Pathfinder features prominently on the car.” The vehicle also features Dr. Nene and his wife Madhuri Dixit Nene wearing space suits, with the phrase “To Infinity and Beyond.” “As a family, it brings us together as a unifying theme, and we race together, so this has become the story of our life in our car,” Dr. Nene explains.
For Ferrari, this type of technical collaboration was the first of its kind, and judging by the initial responses, it was a success. “From Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari, to everyone we showed this to, they were amazed by what this brings together,” says Dr. Nini. “On the track, the car looks fantastic.”
(From left) Raghava, Madhuri and Dr. Nene | Image source: special arrangement
For Raghava, creating a livery design on a race car was not the same as designing on fabric or screen. The technical specifications of the machine and the placement of various elements must closely match how the car will look parked and overtaking others on the track. The art had to encapsulate the storytelling. “In India, we have everything that makes us a beautiful collection, so in this design, there is a juxtaposition and harmony between imagination and precision, like an expressive emotional collection,” says the artist.
Expressing how art is a mixture and echoing Raghava’s sentiments, Dr. Nene concludes, “I believe art should be equal parts science, motivation and beauty, as well as speed and technology. And this car, sort of, brings it all together.”
