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My Wheels: Artist Peter Ciemitis explains his love for his Hyundai i30... and Renault Fuegos

The West Australian
Artist and urban designer Peter Ciemitis drives a Hyundai i30 Elite hatch. photo by Trevor Collens
Camera IconArtist and urban designer Peter Ciemitis drives a Hyundai i30 Elite hatch. photo by Trevor Collens Credit: The West Australian

Artist, urban designer and RobertsDay planning and design consultancy principal Peter Ciemitis is a former Black Swan Prize for Portraiture winner who represented Australia at the G20 summit international art exhibition in China in 2016. With his keen appreciation of function and form, he finds the Hyundai i30 Elite ticks all the boxes.

What are you driving and why did you buy it?

The most recent car we bought was a Hyundai i30 Elite. My wife Jill and I made a conscious move to become a one-car household and use our feet, ride share or public transport more often. As inner-suburb dwellers, a compact car made perfect sense — and the i30 was recommended by every mechanic we knew, even ahead of European counterparts. Being artists, we chose a hatch because we could drop the back seat to move artwork or other bulky items easily. But I also loved the look of the car, especially its resolved line and composition.

What’s your Dream Car?

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The idea of a restored classic appeals to me. Perhaps a Renault Fuego, or maybe I could find the Fiat X19 I had to sell many years ago.

Camera IconCredit: Trevor Collens/The West Australian, Trevor Collens

What was your first car?

My first car was a tiny Daihatsu 360. The 360 meant 360cc, or 0.36-litre. It was only a couple of years after the 1970s energy crisis and being at uni at the time I was aiming to be a bit greener. But, sadly, it didn’t take long for the engine to blow up! My next car was a Kingswood.

What annoys you most about other motorists?

Not much really. A bit of courtesy wouldn’t go astray but I’ve become quite chill — relaxed and untroubled these days.

What’s your favourite driving music?

My guilty pleasure is tuning in to Golden Apples of the Sun on RTRFM on Sundays, a program featuring psych/folk/ambient music. I try to be on the road at that time.

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