Cleveland, Ohio-born artist Daniel Arsham is a student of Japanese craftsmanship, and has endeavored to deliberately embody that spirit in this freshly-finished 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster build, called Bonsai. If you’re not familiar with the concept of Wabi-sabi, it is centered on the ideals of transience and imperfection. It is the appreciation of things which are imperfect, incomplete, or impermanent. I practice a similar appreciation of the concept with my own rough and tumble 912E, and as a result I appreciate this 356 all the more. Arsham has done a tremendous job of ensuring this car looks elegantly disheveled, while ensuring it is mechanically perfect underneath. What more could you want?
The original 356 bodywork has been stripped of all of its paint and presents incredibly well in raw metal slathered in a layer of linseed oil product to protect it from the elements. The sheetmetal is cut back to what it was made after decades of use and restoration, and you can still see all of the pitting, all of the welds, and all of the natural wear and tear. Perfectly chromed pieces were actually removed and replaced with well-aged patinated components like the headlight covers and the vintage license plate. This is such an interesting build, as it flies in the face of traditional ‘restoration’ techniques. The whole process took two years, and it looks like it. This was a meticulous project, and it shows in the details.
“The 356 sits in such an interesting position within the Porsche catalog as the starting point for the heritage brand,” says Arsham. “The nearly 70-year-old vehicle contains the roots of the modern Porsche brand that we know and love in the purest form.” He continues, “Throughout my career, I have looked to Japan as a source of inspiration for their love and dedication to craft. These sensibilities were the base for the Bonsai 356. We produced all textiles in Japan using traditional craftsmen.”
The interior was crafted with help from Japanese fashion designers Motofumi ‘Poggy’ Kogi and Yutaka Fujihara, using traditional Japanese fabrics and techniques. The indigo boro patchwork of the seats and the boot cover are quite interesting to see, giving depth to what would be an otherwise sterile interior. The trim on the outsides of the seats and the door trims is an indigo-dyed cotton fabric with sashiko-stitched linear details. And the third fabric used, and perhaps the most interesting of the lot, is the Japanese selvedge denim used to upholster the convertible top roof of the car. It’s a unique addition to the car, and one I would not have expected. I love it!
This car made its public debut this weekend at The Bridge, an exclusive invite-only concours-style automotive exhibition. Porsche Japan plans to import 356 Bonsai for exhibit in Tokyo at the end of this year, so if you’re in the area, you should check it out.
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