Artwork or automotive? Emirati designer Fatma Al Mulla reimagines special-edition Land Cruiser

The one-off piece, designed to challenge stereotypes around motoring, will be exhibited at Toyota showrooms across the UAE

Emirati artist, designer and illustrator Fatma Al Mulla has reimagined a special-edition 2021 Land Cruiser with her artwork. All images courtesy Al-Futtaim Toyota

The interior was inspired by a majlis, given a contemporary twist with modern prints and hues.

Florals feature heavily in the design.

The one-off piece was first exhibited at Dubai Design Week.

It will now travel around Toyota showrooms across the UAE.

'I intend to challenge the social and cultural stereotypes and perceptions that cars and art designs are made or designed for a specific gender,' says Al Mulla.

Blooms are woven around the wheel arches.

The special-edition Land Cruiser is fitted with autographed floor mats, a patterned tissue box and a woven mat that can be used for camping or star-gazing.

Polka dots also feature in the juxtaposition of prints.

A splash of leopard print.

If you like your car to turn heads on the road, this special-edition Land Cruiser is sure to catch the eye.

Al-Futtaim Toyota has teamed up with Emirati artist, designer and illustrator Fatma Al Mulla to reimagine a 2021 model of the vehicle, fusing art and automotive in a one-off creation.

The Land Cruiser was displayed at this year’s Dubai Design Week in Dubai Design District, and is now going on the road for a tour of Al-Futtaim Toyota showrooms in the UAE.

Using her signature eye for Pop Art aesthetics, Al Mulla – who helms fashion label FMM – has given the vehicle hearty splashes of colour, reupholstering the interior with a vibrant mix of textiles and prints.

Rich florals, a cornerstone of Al Mulla's designs, are woven throughout the interior and exterior, with bold red blooms emblazoned around the wheels.

"Through this art piece, I intend to challenge the social and cultural stereotypes and perceptions that cars and art designs are made or designed for a specific gender," says Al Mulla.

"I strongly believe that women, like men, have the right to drive any car they choose, design it the way they wish, and add their personal touch to it without limitation or fear of being judged. I value individuality and admire people who have their own sense of style.”

Splashes of animal print, polka dots and zig-zags add to the eclectic feel, with the special-edition Land Cruiser fitted with autographed floor mats, a patterned tissue box and a woven mat that can be used for camping or stargazing.

The design was inspired by Emirati heritage, with the interior taking style cues from a colourful majlis, albeit adding a rather contemporary twist.

"The Land Cruiser is a natural narrator of the UAE with its rich regional heritage and we are proud to see Fatma's designs come to life on the 2021 model, showing off the SUV in vibrant and bold colours influenced by the culture of the UAE," says Saud Abbasi, managing director of Al-Futtaim Toyota.

The special-edition car will eventually stop off at every showroom in the country, but is currently on exhibit at the Dubai Festival City branch.