It’s a wrap
Vehicle wrapping is being showcased in a public exhibition believed to be the first of its kind.
Six cars and vans wrapped by leading experts from across the UK are on show at Baltic Square, outside the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
They range from a Ferrari 458 Italia wrapped in a mix of gloss, matte and metallic films to a 1968 MG Roadster Speckled Hen kitted out with a modern twist.
The outdoor exhibit forms part of the 3M Wrap Tour, a five-day, 665-mile UK road trip organised by science-based technology company 3M.
3M, which is a leading manufacturer of print wrap films, has organised the tour and exhibit to celebrate the talents of its Authorised Vehicle Wrappers (AVWs).
Pen Webley, marketing manager for 3M’s Commercial Solutions division, said, ‘Vehicle wrapping is truly an art form, so it’s great to see it recognised at such a wonderful venue. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first exhibit of its kind.
‘Visitors who come for the fabulous paintings and sculptures at the adjacent BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art can enjoy something less conventional at the exhibit put on outside by our AVWs, who are among the best in their profession.’
Vehicle wrapping is a method of creating a new exterior look for a car, van, lorry or even boat, from a simple colour change to more creative designs.
It involves covering the vehicle in a highly stretchable print wrap film, which can be made to conform to recesses by skilfully – and artfully – applying heat and pressure.
In recent years, this has becoming an increasingly popular alternative to spray-painting, in part because innovative new wrap films can achieve various effects that paint cannot.
For example, recent additions to the Wrap Film Series 1080 range by 3M include innovative colour flip shades. Each one exhibits lively polychromatic effects that shift and vary under different viewing angles and lighting.
The 3M Wrap Tour will next stop at the Santa Pod Raceway, in Wellingborough, Northampton, on Saturday (6 October). There, the AVW fleet will go on display during the National Drag Racing Championship Finals.
The tour will end the following day at TRAX Silverstone, the UK’s biggest performance car show
