My interest in cars came about at the same time as I developed an interest in photography. During the 80’s I spent a lot of time in forests photographing rally cars of the era. Most of my photography is action based and I have never really been into art photography and in particular Black and White. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate it. I’ll be honest some of this article is a bit pretentious and if you don’t like it, skip to the pictures.
Mathieu Cesar’s Black & White portraiture brings emotion and character to photography by combining shadows, light and contrast. He is one of today’s leading lighting experts, capable of capturing the essence of each subject. Mathieu Cesar is also a lifelong car fan.
“My world is largely one of passion and childhood influences that I perpetuate and try to bring to life through mostly black-and-white photographs. Cars are the result of human ingenuity. The object brings people together while remaining universal. That’s what we’re trying to achieve with our Monochromatic project with the Alpine designers,” explains Mathieu Cesar.
Mathieu Cesar worked with Alpine to capture an entirely monochromatic car. The vehicle becomes a veritable work of art when stripped of all its colour. The purity of black and white and the range of greys and chromes refine every line and detail.
The monochromatic design accentuates the timelessness and sleek curves of the iconic A110 S while highlighting its power under the bonnet (300 bhp, 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, power-to-weight ratio of 3.7 kg/hp). Inspired by the iconic Berlinette, the design of the A110 S is a synthesis of sportiness. Sketched in a single stroke, it matches the mechanical components as closely as possible, revealing an assertive character for road and track driving.
For the exterior, the use of the black and white gradient on the bodywork, a genuine signature of the artist, was defined at the first meeting between the Alpine design team and Mathieu Cesar in early 2024. Because photography reveals beauty and reality, the design team stripped back the A110 S’s aluminium bodywork while working on the transition zones in white shading. The gloss black front and rear panels create a graphic impression.
Inside the A110 Monochromatic, the white upper section contrasts with the black lower section. 3D printing was chosen to create lightness and transparency for the backrests and door trims. The white-to-black upholstery refers to the gradation of the exterior. Lastly, aluminium interior elements such as the A110 Monochromatic console decoration, a nameplate and specific door sills complete the design.
During this collaboration, Mathieu Cesar captured the soul of Alpine in timeless photographs and a film in which the car seems frozen in a parallel universe where light and shadow dance upon the bodywork.
After the Alpine A110 S by Felipe Pantone in 2021, the A110 Sastruga by the Obvious Collective in 2022 and the A110 Metamorphosis by Arne Quinze in 2023, Alpine is entering a new artistic collaboration for the fourth year running. These creative partnerships demonstrate Alpine’s commitment to supporting creativity and exploring new territories.
