To cope with the fatal accident of his good friend and colleague Elio de Angelis in 1986, Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson unexpectedly began painting. The Swede successfully traded the racetrack for canvas, stating, “Finding the right color: that’s really the hardest part.”
Many motorsport enthusiasts look back nostalgically at the 1980s. The race cars of that era were incredibly fast and dangerous. Interestingly, compared to the previous decades in Formula 1, there were relatively few fatal accidents. That is, until the fateful test day at Paul Ricard in 1986, when the talented Elio de Angelis tragically lost his life. “I was there with Alain Prost and Jacques Lafitte,” Johansson recalls. “We stopped at the accident and ran to his car. But it was on fire, we simply couldn’t do anything. It affected me deeply and I struggled with it. Strangely enough, it led me to start painting. Don’t ask me why, because I had nothing to do with painting. But I suddenly decided to buy a canvas, paint, and brushes. I wanted to do something in memory of Elio.”
Johansson describes the experience as being struck by lightning, opening up a whole new world for him. Since then, he hasn’t stopped painting. The Swede has since established himself as a renowned artist with studios in California and London. “I can almost make a living from it now, but that’s not the goal. It’s more about the joy I get from it. You enter a wonderful state of mind, it’s almost a therapeutic process. And above all, if you can do what you love every day, that’s not a bad way to lead your life, right?”
WIN! An Exclusive Artwork by Stefan Johansson
Are you a fan of Formula 1 and art? Then we have something special for you! Former F1 driver Stefan Johansson is offering his artwork ‘Tarzan’ for one lucky winner. The piece is part of his series Memories of a Past Life, in which the Swede combines abstract art with his rich racing history. Each painting refers to an iconic turn or section of a circuit, and this one is, of course, named after the legendary Tarzan turn at Circuit Zandvoort. A beautiful tribute to Zandvoort as only this former driver can create.
