One man’s passion for photography and affection for Porsche has led to a labour of love becoming a beautiful, elegant celebration of the 911 in print
Where clear design language meets raw emotionSome passions seamlessly fit together. Like those of Bart Kuykens. In his spare time, the casting agency owner enjoys taking analogue photographs – and he also loves the 911. So, he decided one day to combine the two passions and took photos of a friend’s 911. They were so well received that Kuykens suddenly found himself documenting more and more stories using his camera. And the natural progression was to eventually publish his photos. He has now created seven illustrated books – an issue for every letter of the Porsche brand name – with a new volume published every year. The title of the series speaks for itself: ‘A Flat 6 Love Affair’. It’s a declaration of love for the car that Kuykens has loved since his youth. And for good reason. Kuykens was also fascinated by the 911 owners and Porsche legends whom he met. He was interested in their stories that resembled his own. Perhaps it is this clear understanding of the relationship between man and the 911 that makes his photography so popular.
A good design for me is minimalistic design. Less is more. That’s why I like the 911 – it’s a very minimalistic design
Bart Kuykens is passionate about minimalistic designWhere clear design language meets raw emotion. Kuykens knows how to skilfully showcase seemingly contradictory excitement. His images also impress Porsche legends such as Walter Röhrl, Hans Mezger and Norbert Singer. They can all be found in Kuykens’ books. They are all happy to express their love of the 911 in his images.Kuykens travelled a lot to take the photos. But it was worth it. The presence of the 911 alone was great, he says. And that still applies today.Bart Kuykens with his illustrated book 'A Flat 6 Love Affair'Kuykens himself owns a 911 (F series) in GT Silver from 1970 – a constant feature in his garage, while he repeatedly buys other Porsche models and eventually sells them again. Normally, he says. This is his way of driving them all. But he remains loyal to his F series.Artist Bart Kuykens in front of his Porsche 911 (F series)Simply unmistakableIt’s the timeless design that fascinates him. A fascination that is reflected in each of his images. It’s no coincidence that his illustrated books are limited to 911 copies per issue. He prefers to use a somewhat industrial environment – from complementary, functional minimalism to rough, high-contrast surfaces. The 911 models that he places in front of these stand out, with their clean lines and unity of form and function. The contrast between the setting and the 911 emphasises the design. Regardless of the location and the generation – the 911 flyline is unmistakable.Bart Kuykens at work in his darkroom for photo development
What I like about the design of the 911 is the bridge between the old and the new. Even when it’s a new model, you still see the heritage
Bart Kuykens is fascinated by timeless designThe design of the new 911 unites traditional and modern. The wings are clearly shaped and highlight the powerful geometry and design DNA. The newly designed bonnet with its characteristic dynamic recess profiles – and its straight slope to the front apron – is a nod to the 911 models of the first generation.The Porsche 911 stands for timeless sports car design
The 911 has always pushed boundaries in terms of timeless design. It’s iconic. It’s a timeless sports car
Bart Kuykens on the road with his Porsche 911 (F series)New, yet familiarThe 911 has been on a journey towards the future since 1963. And yes, sometimes back to a moving past. But it has never just stayed the same. Making it a sports car icon that has lost none of its fascination in over 50 years.Bart Kuykens in action with his favourite camera: a Leica M-AKuykens also admits that he’s curious about the new 911 – how it’s moved and changed with the times. Because Kuykens knows he can rely on the fact that the new 911 remains true to itself. And that in future, he can also perpetuate the bond between the 911 and its owners in his "A Flat 6 Love Affair" illustrated books. A timeless sports car in the best sense. The new 911. Timeless Machine.
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