Supercars and women celebrating women
- Automobile Featured Trending
Schenelle Dsouza- 9 minutes read
Jade Crasto
The city of Gurugram was witness to a very special rally featuring women-only participants, driving some of the choicest automobiles. Held on February 20, this was the first rally of its kind, with members of a recently formed club called the Women’s Super-Car Club, driving around the Aravalli hills.
Introduced by Big Boy Toyz, Gurgaon, a multi-brand pre-owned luxury car company, the Women’s Super-Car Club is a membership-only network of women who are owners of luxury supercars.
Car connoisseur and artist Michelle Poonawalla who is a member of the club herself collaborated with and showcased her artwork at the event. Poonawalla’s artwork was highlighted at the inaugural of the club alongside 40 supercars during the event at Big Boy Toyz Gurgaon including the Ferrari 488 GTB, Mustang GT, Porsche 911 Turbo s, BMW i8, Maybach 62, BMW M3 among others.
Spilling the beans on the event, LuxeBook spoke to Michelle Poonawalla and Ritika Ahuja- Founder of the Women’s Super-Car Club of India.
Ritika Ahuja, Founder of the Women’s Super-Car Club talks about the club being a passion project for her. “I feel bad when women are stereotyped as bad drivers or given the smallest car in the family. I believe that if girls can drive nations, companies, and families, then we can very well own and drive a luxury car. My belief and passion for cars is what gave me the push I needed to conceptualize and introduce this club.” Ahuja started the Women’s Super-Car Club to dispel such myths and to encourage women to come out in public with their passion for automobiles.
Michelle Poonawalla is an artist who lives and works between London, UK, and Pune, India. Her works explore universal, socially engaged topics that strike a chord with a wide range of audiences, eliciting powerful memories and moving experiences. Her work mixes cutting-edge technology and conventional creative mediums in an emotionally charged and lyrical manner, frequently including sound, video-mapping, projection, motion sensors, and other techniques to bring her inventive paintings and installations to life.
Her artwork features graffiti said to be inspired by the time she spent painting in her garden and studio in Pune, the changes in seasons and the time she spent in London. “I spent my formative years in London where I studied and trained as an artist. The city’s street art and graffiti are so inspirational and dynamic. This graffiti series has been inspired by street style, speed, excitement, and motion – and I hope they all provide a perfect complement to the cars,” says Poonawalla.
Poonawalla’s signature motif is a butterfly. According to her, a butterfly can depict multiple meanings. “It reminds us of the fragility of life, it shows freedom, it gives people a feeling of hope and love”, says Poonawalla. The artist usually makes 3D cards or metal butterflies, and fixes them to the canvas, giving her paintings a 3D physicality.
Her favourite piece from the collection was Cosmos- inspired by the Universe and the Butterfly effect. “If you compare a butterfly to the size of the universe – it’s really insignificant! However, the butterfly has the power to cause a much bigger impact with just the flap of its wings. One small action can lead to a chain of events and can even bring about significant changes. It reminded me that our actions, however small, can make a difference”.
Poonawalla comes from a family that has always had an interest in art and cars, and this instilled the love for both in her. She chose to partake in this collaboration as many of the cars displayed at the inaugural are works of art and the two areas complement each other. She also states that it is important to be able to support other women who are extremely passionate about their interests, forming India’s first Women’s Super-Car Club.
As a car and art lover, Michelle says she felt proud to see her art displayed next to some extraordinary cars. As it was the first Women’s Car Club in India, she felt honoured to have her art chosen and to show the world that women too can be passionate about cars as well as art.
Speaking about Michelle Poonawalla’s art, Ahuja added, “Her artwork is about butterflies, freedom and luxury. The launch of the Women’s Super-Car Club also celebrated the same. It celebrated womanhood; women who have been the players in their respective fields, who have overcome every obstacle to reach their destination. The club embraces these superwomen, their journey and their supercars. Our vision has been the same and Michelle’s art depicted the same vibe, making it a perfect eve.”
