AAMURAKAMI AND BMW AT ART BASEL 2026
“Existence itself becomes the material,” Murakami says designboom at the premiere of SYMBIOSIS, them BMW– assignment installation during Art Basel 2026. Exploring the boundary between the artificial and the natural, the immersive work focuses on a sculptural monolith where mechanical systems create bubbles, light and fog that evolve out of control.
“Our facilities typically combine custom technology with uncontrolled natural phenomena,” explains Azusa Murakami. “We build precise systems that ultimately let nature take over. Once a bubble forms, forces such as gravity and airflow dictate its path. It is essentially about surrendering control to natural forces.’
This year’s collaboration continues BMW’s tradition of working with established artists, following Es Devlin in 2024 and Alvaro Barrington in 2025. “BMW invited us to propose a concept for Art Basel exploring the theme of symbiosis, which resonated with us, as our work often explores how technology and natural forces combine into a unique experience.” notes Alexander Groves.
AAMurakami presents SYMBIOSIS at Art Basel Basel 2026. images © Gary Yeh
SYMBIOSIS EXPLORES EXISTENCE AS MATERIAL
On display until June 21, 2026 in Art Basel’s Hall 1, the multisensory installation translates the BMW Neue Klasse’s Symbiotic Drive technology in an ephemeral, natural experience. AAMurakami’s work consistently explores the point where human control ends and nature takes over.
In SYMBIOSIS, the artist duo based in London and Tokyo creates a continuous dialogue between mechanical systems and natural evolution, where sculptural forms coexist with ephemeral phenomena.
“We see these bubbles as almost alive,” explains Groves. “Although intuitively obvious to recognize, life is scientifically difficult to define. However, early life is thought to have formed inside oily ocean bubbles before evolving into complex cells. For us, bubbles represent memento mori: the beauty and transience of life.”
In their “ephemeral technology” artworks, whether they consist of fog rings, bubbles or plasma, existence itself becomes the material. As the Light and Space movement used light as their primary medium, so we use existence. The work appears out of thin air and disappears into it again.’
the immersive installation translates BMW’s Symbiotic Drive technology into an ephemeral work of art
A FACILITY WHERE PRECISION MECHANICS AND NATURE CO-EXIST
Exploring the boundaries between the artificial and the natural, SYMBIOSIS uses custom machines to produce light, fog and mist-filled bubbles that evolve entirely shaped by natural forces.
‘In this piece, mist-filled bubbles grow out of the sculpture and slide across its surface, guided by the technology behind them. We’re fascinated by this transition: taking information from the digital world and turning it into something ephemeral, subject to physical laws like gravity and intermolecular forces.’
The work focuses on the new BMW M760e xDrive, a vehicle whose monolithic design distills every element to its essential form. Together, the car and the installation reveal a balance between complex technology and an emotional effect.
As a nod to BMW’s reputation for precision engineering, AAMurakami also decided to showcase the technology behind the installation, highlighting its own engineering and adding a new dimension to the project.
bubbles, light and fog move through space as engineering meets nature
bubbles emerge from robotic totems before drifting to the Messeplatz
SYMBIOSIS surrounds the new BMW M760e xDrive with changing atmospheric effects
the installation reflects Neue Klasse’s focus on intuitive interaction between driver and vehicle
