Custom Porsche 356 Build Inspired By Japanese Bonsai

Japanese Inspired

The worlds of art and cars - specifically Porsche vehicles, in many cases - have long crossed in a variety of ways, with automobiles serving as the subject of art as well as a canvas in some cases. The latest example of this comes to us in the form of this amazing custom Porsche 356, which was created by artist Daniel Arsham with an infusion of inspiration taken from the Japanese aesthetic concept Wabi Sabi.

Photos: Porsche

Back to Basics

Arsham actually owns this 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster, and over the span of two years, he has worked to unpeel the vehicle’s age and wear, leaning into its production history, inspired by his own reverence towards Japanese culture and its many specialized craftspeople. The acceptance of ‘imperfection’ and finding peace in the natural processes of time come through in both the stripped-down raw metal exterior and the indigo-dyed interior of the 356 Bonsai.

Photos: Porsche

Stripped Down

On the outside, Arsham stripped all of the paint from the car, removing the original finish and years of restorations, revealing all of its welds, pit marks, and natural wear. Now, only a layer of linseed oil protects the raw metal from the elements, in accordance with original Japanese manufacturing processes. On the rear engine grille of the vehicle, Arsham added a patinated bronze relief in the shape of a Bonsai tree. However, the patinated exterior does not stop at the body, as the artist also found all-original well-worn components for the rest of the exterior - from the headlight covers to the vintage license plate.

Photos: Porsche

Moving Art

At the same time, this 356 is very much drivable, as its original powerplant has been rebuilt, while Willhoit Auto Restoration and the Bridgehampton Motoring Club handled the rest of the mechanical repairs and upgrades. Because what good is a cool build like this if you can't drive and enjoy it?

Photos: Porsche

Best of Two Worlds

“The 356 sits in such an interesting position within the Porsche catalog as the starting point for the heritage brand,” Arsham said. “The nearly 70-year-old vehicle contains the roots of the modern Porsche brand that we know and love in the purest form. 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.”

Photos: Porsche

Aging Gracefully

On the inside, Arsham worked with Japanese fashion designers Motofumi ‘Poggy’ Kogi and Yutaka Fujihara to outfit the car with traditional Japanese fabrics from boro patchwork to Japanese selvedge denim. For the driver and passenger seat, along with the boot cover, these are made of indigo-dyed boro patchwork textiles. Alongside the boro, Arsham added more indigo-dyed cotton fabric punctuated with sashiko-stitched lines on the door trim and edge of the seats. As the final fabric, Arsham and team produced a Japanese denim to upholster the roof, covering the car’s interior. These three fabrics come together to enhance the Wabi Sabi influence on the car as a whole - selectively choosing materials that are intended to progress with use and age.

Photos: Porsche

Warm and Welcoming

In the trunk, a Japanese tatami mat sits under the spare wheel in the luggage compartment. Made of rice straw, these mats are a classic element of Japanese architecture, and are usually fitted as a floor covering in living areas. The connection between the car interior and home architecture is a detail that nods to the artist’s admiration of omotenashi, like wabi-sabi, better experienced than explained - warmth and the welcoming of guests into a household.

Photos: Porsche

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