‘Funky Oil’ was created in 1999 at The Mill in London. Using the latest 3D software technologies, Ilic created a digital moving image artwork encoded and reproduced on DVD which he described as ‘DVD Pop Art’. Later that year, Funky Oil was exhibited in the Paul Smith Shop window on Floral Street, London, using one of the first portable DVD players in the UK.

Paul Smith agreed to sell limited editions of Funky Oil in store. One of the buyers was chatshow host Jonathan Ross who liked his DVD Pop Art so much he reproduced it as the backdrop for ‘Friday Night with Jonathan Ross’.

In 1999 Virgin Atlantic picked up on Funky Oil and signed a licence for its usage as inflight art.

The popular red lava was later included in other television programmes and exhibited in numerous clubs and restaurants internationally. Funky Oils were also sold to consumers in retail stores and via a nascent online service.