Car enthusiasts consider most Ferraris – even the pre-di Montezemolo era models that were impractical and tricky to drive, to be works of art. Few can disagree when one sets his eyes upon a 250 GTO, an F40 or the more recent, 458 Italia.

But what does a real artist think of Maranelo’s supercars? It depends: if the artist is Anthony James, best known for employing AK-47 machine guns and chainsaws in his creations, then the answer may come as a shock.

You see, the 36-year-old artist bought a Ferrari 355 Spider not for enjoying a piece of Italian supercar mastery, but for the sole purpose of creating a work of art. So what did he do? Did he paint it in a psychedelic scheme, like artists who worked on BMW’s cars, or create a new edition with unusual bodywork colors and bespoke interior?

None of the above: James actually torched it, and then flanked it with birch trunks and put it in a mirrored cube… For the uninitiated, including yours truly, that’s art.

James named his work of art “ΚΘ” for “Kαλός Θάνατος”, which is Greek for “good death” – if there really is such a thing.

“It was meant to signify sacrifice” he told Forbes’ Hannah Elliott who interviewed him. “Ancient Greeks used to sacrifice to Venus in birch forests, so it’s like a temple. And the car was my prized possession, something I’ve always wanted. So I sacrificed it.”

There you have it: Anthony James is not a car-hater –in fact his everyday car is a limited edition 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche. He just torched a supercar he always wanted in order to create a work of art. Now that’s a sacrifice Agamemnon would be proud of.

Oh, and one last thing. Those of you, who are also into aircrafts, consider yourself warned: his newest acquisition is a 1962 MiG-17 fighter…

Story sources: Forbes & AnthonyJamesStudio

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