Inside Look: Roy Nachum’s One-Off Defender 90 “Moment of Clarity”

August 26, 2025 - Hip Hop
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Artist Roy Nachum of Mercer Labs and automotive expert Marc Shammah of Gotham Motor Group — known for his work with Porsche x Aimé Leon Dore — have unveiled Moment of Clarity, a one-of-one Land Rover Defender 90 that blurs the lines between art, engineering and lifestyle. The project marks the first creation from Carthè, a new venture the pair co-founded to approach automobiles as living, moving artworks.

The build is finished in Porsche’s rare Sepia Brown and upholstered in Classic Cognac leather, expressing timeless refinement while reflecting Nachum’s personal story. Inside, travertine stone flooring and a hand-painted speedometer bring his artistic language into the cabin, while Shammah ensured every technical detail was executed with the utmost precision. “This project wasn’t just about building a car,” said Shammah. “It was about telling Roy’s story in motion. The Defender became a canvas, and every choice — from the paint to the picnic accessories — reflected his world and his family.”

Unlike traditional custom builds, Moment of Clarity was assembled not in a workshop but in Nachum’s own Hamptons garage. The artist personally invested countless hours into the process. “For me, art is about breaking boundaries and bringing emotion into new spaces,” said Nachum. “Building this Defender in my own garage with my own hands made it incredibly personal. It’s more than a car — it’s a memory and an experience.”

Despite its sculptural qualities, the Defender remains practical, with features such as Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, heated seats and even a built-in refrigerator. This balance of artistry and usability reflects Carthè’s mission to merge beauty, function and storytelling into limited-edition vehicles. Through Moment of Clarity, Nachum and Shammah have launched more than a single build — they’ve introduced Carthè as a creative platform where each project will tell its own narrative. Several new vehicles are already in development, continuing their vision of cars not just as machines, but as cultural artifacts.

See more in the official launch video below, shot by Hyu Kawabe:

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

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