Hommage à Ferrari

“How do you really show a car when it’s not in motion? It’s like fashion: how can you really show clothing when it’s on the rack? I asked Andrée Putman to create the stage design. I told her: “When you think Ferrari, you think red.” Andrée responded: “You can’t be serious... You know me with color...” and I said: “Exactly.”

She came up with two projects for us: one with a carousel and a train that circulated throughout the Fondation, and another with hot-air balloons. We settled on the hot-air balloons. Andrée also created a full set of furnishings for the exhibit: stands, display units, etc. Andrée’s idea was to ground the cars but to also show them taking off.

We went to see the people at Pininfarina and Ferrari, collectors Pierre Bardinon and Jackie Setton, specialist auctioneer Hervé Poulain, and some drivers. Pierre Bardinon wanted a mechanic to be there throughout the entire duration of the exhibit to run the cars’ engines every day. This particular exhibit touched a lot of people.” 

Marie-Claude Beaud, Director of the Fondation Cartier, 1987.