Fire and flames for Tyler Shields’ Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

For his photo exhibition ‘Provocateur’ – currently on display at London art gallery Imitate Modern – American photographer and filmmaker Tyler Shields orchestrated a spectacular final bow for one of his main props: a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.

In the name of art

Is this Bonnie & Clyde-style ‘provocation’ a step too far just for the sake of modern art, even if the subject in question was used as Shields’ daily driver for almost a year before being blown up? Well, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is yet to be embraced by the collector market, with values hovering around €20,000 for a decent example. Plus it’s not the first time it’s been done: British rock ‘n’ roll band Oasis famously sank a similar car for the cover of its 1997 album ‘Be Here Now’. We’ll leave it to you, the critics, to decide whether that justifies the Roller’s fiery finale but, since we’re talking about it, it seems Shields’ objective is all but complete.