UNLEASHN THE BEAST
Unleash the Beast originated from an idea that stayed with me for more than seven years. I wanted to work with the Mercedes G-Class—not because of its performance or status, but because, to me, it represents one of the most iconic automotive designs ever created. Its silhouette is instantly recognizable. Everyone knows it. In Munich especially, it has become a symbol of success.
For years, I searched for a private owner willing to make their vehicle available for this project. When the opportunity finally arose, it was clear from the beginning that I did not want to simply paint the car. Instead, the entire G-Class was wrapped and concealed. Through this intervention, it lost its function as a vehicle and became a sculpture—an immobile object occupying space.
Beneath this shell, however, the “Beast” remained. At the time, the Mercedes-AMG G63 was nearly impossible to obtain and highly sought after. Its power, mythology, and desirability were still present, even though they had been hidden from view.
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On this new surface, I developed my work. Using my signature pattern of tags, lettering, and organic forms, I covered the entire body of the vehicle. The marks settled onto the car like a second skin, following its contours and transforming a technical object into an autonomous artwork.
The project explores perception, status, and projection. What remains of a symbol of success once it is stripped of its original function? When does an object become an icon, and when does an icon become a sculpture? Unleash the Beastexists within this tension—between concealment and presence, desire and withdrawal, automobile and artwork.
The work was presented as part of the exhibition “Shortcuts” at Studio Odeonsplatz by Mercedes-Benz in Munich. There, the G-Class was not displayed as a vehicle, but as a sculpture—wrapped, immobilized, and yet full of presence.
Fillin Guas, 2022
In cooperation with ATEC – Design und finest automotive
