Studio Job for Land Rover

Invited to design a special version of the Land Rover Defender to celebrate its 65th birthday, Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel come up with a summary of their whole oeuvre in all its layered facets.

The Land Rover by Studio Job is a unique piece made of mixed materials, such as hand blown glass, swarovski crystals, european oak, to create a sculptural object on show at PAN, the Amsterdam's art, design, antiques fair, until December 1 2013.

For a designer, one of the most prestigious commissions is the design of a car. Preferably for a famous brand or for an iconic car. Designing a car means you’re successful! There are several examples of this, but I will only mention the Ford by Marc Newson and the recent Renault by Ross Lovegrove. Almost always these become ‘concept cars’. A styling exercise at the highest level. The cars look like they have come from Mars, have various futuristic and practical gadgets and high-end ingenuities which the design team of the respective car brand can truly admire… at least, that seems the purpose. Sometimes beautiful, often magnificent, but often filled with promise!

Studio Job, <i>Land Rover</i>, 2013 — Studio Job, *Land Rover*, 2013

When Nynke and I spoke with Land Rover about the icon of Land Rover, the Defender, which now officially reaches pensionable age, everything that’s described above was exactly what we didn’t want. It should not become a stylistic exercise, no beautification, no gadgets, nothing futuristic.
We wanted a JOB Land Rover that’s here and now. A sculpture of today.

It all got totally out of hand! The moment that black lady entered our workshop, inspiration started to flow out of our ears. One idea after another. This Land Rover had to cross the world of Studio Job, dig up her own past and also take with her the most exotic and conflicting elements of the African continent on her freaky journey.

This Land Rover became a rolling cabinet of curiosities. The mysterious car that Doctor Snuggles always wanted to have. It’s the Queen’s car, but also the throne of a chieftain, and at the same time a mechanical rhinoceros, a freak show. An autonomous caricature for the leading part in a video by a leading pop star…

People, this Defender has become everything it could have become. Like a cubistic art piece with various perspectives. It is chaotic and bizarre as life itself. It certainly isn’t a stylistic exercise from the design bible, but definitely a rudimentary work of art, conjured from the high hat – also the controversial palette – of Studio Job. An anti-hero that anticipates itself. A diary and a mirror. Job De Smeets

Until 1 December 2013
PAN Amsterdam

Automobile: Land Rover by Studio Job
Model: Defender 90
Year: 2012-2013
Edition: unique piece
Dimension: 500 x 290 x 270 cm
Engine: 2.2-liter diesel motor
Performance: 90 kw / 3.500 tpm
Torque: 360 nm / 2.000 tphm
Material: aluminum, bronze, brass, european oak, faience (ceramic), swarovski crystals, hand blown glass, hand paintings, harness leather, high gloss pu coating, rubber ps 160, satin lining, silver leaf, smurray, stained glass, vlisco wax printed fabric, 2k alkyd hand painting, 24k gold leaf.

Studio Job for Land Rover

Invited to design a special version of the Land Rover Defender to celebrate its 65th birthday, Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel come up with a summary of their whole oeuvre in all its layered facets.

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