La artist Marta de la Fuente has reinterpreted the electric model Lexus RZ as a visual logbook that invites viewers to travel to «happy moments» linked to gastronomy at the Art Madrid fair, where the installation titled ‘Itadakimasu’ (Enjoy your meal! in Japanese) is on display until March 9 at the Crystal Gallery of the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid.
The work is the result of the collaboration between Lexus and Marta de la Fuente and is part of the II Edition of ‘Lexus Art Month’, with which the Japanese brand, participating for the second consecutive year in Art Madrid, reinforces its commitment to contemporary art and support for young emerging talents. In addition, Lexus participates as the official vehicle in ARCOmadrid and in UVNT Art Fair, consolidating its positioning as a promoter of design and innovation.
According to De la Fuente, ‘Itadakimasu’ emerged after discovering Lexus’s Japanese roots and the synergies between Japanese and Spanish gastronomies, a connection that inspired the artist to create a sensory journey through landscapes and flavors of both countries.
«I hope viewers feel the same as I do, that it takes them to places in their childhood or happy moments where food has been the protagonist,» explained the artist to Europa Press, highlighting that the work aims to convey the simplicity and transcendence of those everyday moments.
CULINARY FUSION BETWEEN SPAIN AND JAPAN
The installation transforms the Lexus RZ into an artistic support that narrates a gastronomic journey between Spain and Japan, integrating landscapes, foods, and traditional trades of both cultures through paintings and projections. These images extend to the walls of the stand, creating an immersive collage.
«The car unites the two cultures, and what they represent are parts of the journey: the journey, the landscapes, the foods, and the moment of enjoyment and eating,» detailed the artist, who used projectors to adjust the perspective and distortion of the images due to the complexity of the curved volumes of the vehicle.
The installation is completed with a soundtrack created with sound designer José Plaza, mixing the bustle of Spanish taverns and Japanese sushi restaurants to reinforce the unity between both cultures. «In the end, all the sounds are mixed so that it is seen that, even though they are super different cultures, the gastronomic part has many similarities,» added De la Fuente.
The creative process, according to the artist, involved numerous challenges due to time pressure, as she worked for a week on the installation, supported by her mother and friends. «I’ve really stepped out of my comfort zone, and it’s been a lot of fun,» confessed De la Fuente, highlighting the full trust that Lexus placed in her, giving her total creative freedom.
LEXUS ART MONTH
On March 1st, the ‘Lexus Art Month’ initiative began, through which the brand aims to show its support for art and contemporary creation by participating in various fairs and artistic events during this month.
One of these initiatives is Lexus’s participation in the ARCOmadrid fair, of which it is the official partner for the sixth consecutive year, where it is exhibiting the winning work from the previous edition of the Lexus Art Car competition, ‘Edo Kiriko’, created by Pablo Diego Pastor and Javier Prado López. This piece is inspired by the Japanese glass carving technique ‘Edo Kiriko’ and has transformed the LBX model into a unique piece that merges tradition and modernity.
Its participation in ARCOmadrid 2025 is complemented by the presentation of the Lexus Award for Best Stand and Artistic Content, as well as the deployment of a fleet of vehicles to facilitate visitor transportation during the fair.
In addition to its presence at ARCOmadrid 2025 and Art Madrid, the brand will also be present at UVNT Art Fair (Urvanity). In this fair, dedicated to emerging artists and disruptive proposals, Lexus presents a reinterpretation of the LBX by artist Andrés Izquierdo, exploring new forms of artistic expression.
The Art Madrid fair, celebrating its 20th edition, brings together more than forty national and international galleries and expects to surpass the 100,000 visitors reached in previous editions, establishing itself as a must-visit for contemporary art lovers.