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Color in the interior Artist Beezy Bailey
Color in the interior Artist Beezy Bailey
Artist Beezy BaileySocial arbiter and people - watcher Mary Killen analyses peoples relationships with their cars. This month, she joins artist Beezy Bailey as he prepares to ship a 1961 Bentley Continental Flying Spur back to his native South AfricaSouth African artist Beezy Bailey celebrated the success of Icon - Iconoclast, his summer exhibition in Johannesburg, with an iconic purchase. After the sell - out show, larger - than - life Beezy went online to look at new Bentley Continentals but did not like them. They look rounded and have no character, soul or individuality, he says. Then he saw that a 1961 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, once owned by Sir Elton John, was on the market and that, by contrast, it was an object of great beauty. He flew to England and bought it. Now he and I are driving the moving, living work of art from Notting Hill to Ipswich, where it will enter a container and be shipped to South Africa for the not unreasonable fee of ?1,500. Life is short, pronounces Beezy. And you only live once. If you make some money, what is the point of giving it to a man in a suit who gives you back a piece of paper telling you how much you have made - or more often lost, because he has stolen it - and you looking at the piece of paper and putting it in a drawer? Why not invest your money instead in something that you can see and use, will give you and others pleasure, and will definitely go up in value? Beezys wife, Nicci, and their teenage children, Jasper and Saskia, were more tight - lipped about the potential purchase as Beezy flew to England to check out the car with the help of an expert who gave it six - and - a - half out of 10. He was fastidiously critical and meticulous, though, explains Beezy. I mean, things such as this tiny crack in the veneer that you can hardly see, and such like. Had it been in perfect condition, I would not have been able to afford it. As it is, the whole purchase, including the cost of shipping it back home, will have cost me less than the price of a new top - of - the - range Audi, and this car will continue to go up in value. The burgundy - coloured masterpiece was delivered to Notting Hill by the previous owners driver and left with a friend of Beezy, who hasfour parking spaces outside her house. It was only 10am but already there was an impressive gathering of Beezy fans who had come to see the car being launched, like a ship, with a mini bottle of Champagne, by Brian Eno, with whom Beezy is about to collaborate on an art project. We are starting tomorrow, says Beezy, so nicknamed by his South African nanny because he was always so beezy - busy. What will they do? |
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