As the Formula E Racing season draws to a close, Allianz, the global insurer also known for its asset management companies PIMCO and AllianzGI, chose the occasion of the double header race finale in NYC as a celebration of its Global Explorer Program.
Building on the company´s long term partnerships with The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the global ABB FIA Formula E Championship, Allianz creates an immersive virtual reality experience for museum visitors and race fans alike. Topping off the race season, the company invites New Yorkers to join the Explorer micro-conference – NYC edition at MoMA PS1 to discuss collaboration and co-creation between disciplines as science fact and science fiction begin to merge.
“Collaboration and co-creation between disciplines, people and partners enables innovative and sustainable solutions for the future. And with the support of our amazing global art and mobility partners MoMA and the ABB FIA Formula E, we have the unique opportunity to explore the visionary power of technology and art here in New York City and invite New Yorkers to join us in exploring the future,” says Jean-Marc Pailhol, Head of Group Market Management and Distribution at Allianz SE.
As ten race team teams battle it out against the iconic backdrop of the Manhattan skyline in a bid to be crowned Formula E season 2017/18 champion, Allianz offers visitors of the race in Red Hook, Brooklyn the possibility of exploring the future in a unique full body virtual reality flight experience. The cutting edge technology experience allows visitors to soar through four uniquely created virtual universes. Starting off in the New York of today, the flight takes explorers into the future - encountering many of the technologies that are already in place from manned drones to unmanned AI vehicles, before finally touching down on Mars of the future. Taking an unexpected turn, the experience allows the visitors to change perspectives and view the future through the eyes and work of artist Bodys Isek Kingelez as they sail through a precisely modelled virtual recreation of the artist’s spectacular, large-scale city sculpture Ville Fantôme (1996).
Allianz is the lead sponsor of the first U.S. retrospective devoted to the work of visionary Congolese artist Bodys Isek Kingelez (1948-2015). Currently on view at The Museum of Modern Art, Bodys Isek Kingelez: City Dreams features more than 30 of the artist’s “extreme maquettes—which take the form of intricate sculptures that suggest utopian possibilities for global urban sites. City Dreams includes an interactive virtual-reality experience of Kingelez’s largest cityscape, Ville Fantôme, developed by Third Pillar and in partnership with Allianz, which allows visitors to virtually traverse the imagined city. With this special feature, Allianz and MoMA present a unique opportunity to explore the incredible detail that characterizes the artist’s work, and gain new perspectives into his process and vision.
A deeper exploration of this theme will also be focus of the last Explorer micro-conference in NYC. The last conference of the season running alongside the Formula E 2017/2018 racing calendar will be the highlight of the popular series. Joining forces with global art partner MoMA and with media partner Futurism, a panel of visionaries and innovators from engineering, technology, art, governance, and design will come together to discuss who holds the key to progress. Taking place at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, Futurism's CEO Alex Klokus will guide a debate and discussion with an expert panel to investigate how the blending of disciplines can create more equitable, vibrant, and sustainable cities.