Gunmetal Symphony: the Porsche 911 revisited in steel tubes
In 2021, Antoine Dufilho explores a new direction: stainless steel tubes. With Gunmetal Symphonythe sculptor from the north of France transposes his vision of the Porsche 911 into a new language. This tubular approach opens up visual perspectives that his previous creations in stainless steel strips did not allow.
The idea behind the tubes
“In 2021 I wanted to set myself a new challenge and present a new work,” explains the artist. This time, he works exclusively with stainless steel tubes. A radical departure from his previous sculptures.
The sculptor from the north of France speaks of a “new tubular style”. The tubes create visual effects that he couldn’t achieve with his earlier techniques. Depending on the angle, we see sometimes a lace of metal, sometimes a honeycomb.
The transition from lamellae to tubes is not trivial. Since 2012, Dufilho had been working mainly with cut stainless steel plates. His Bugatti Atlantic, his Ferraris, all followed this logic of cutting. With Gunmetal Symphony, he abandons this approach to explore the assembly of cylindrical tubes.
This technical evolution changes everything. Welding stainless steel tubes requires a different kind of precision. Each tube must be positioned exactly to create the desired effect. There’s no room for error, as there was with adjustable slats.
An imposing monument
The full-size version is 4.30 m long, 1.80 m wide and 1.40 m high. Not exactly discreet. The stainless steel tubes give an impression of speed, even when the sculpture is not moving.
The wheels are slightly oval and hollowed out. A detail that reinforces the sensation of movement. From the front, the effect changes completely. We no longer see a car, but a complex geometric structure.
Dufilho is still playing with his obsessions: emptiness and fullness, illusion and reality. But the tubes bring something new. Transparency works differently.
Smaller versions
Not all of Dufilho’s sculptures reach 4 meters in height. The smaller versions retain the same tubular technique. Same material, same visual effects, more accessible format.
These pieces allow us to understand the artist’s work without needing a hangar to display them. Stainless steel retains its appearance, whether the sculpture is 80 cm or 4 meters tall.
A logical evolution
This tubular Porsche is part of the evolution of Dufilho’s work. After the Bugatti slats, after Red Racing Flower, something else had to be invented. Tubular steel was his answer.
The artist always builds in order to deconstruct later. He keeps the essence of the object, not its exact form. With Gunmetal Symphony, he takes this logic a step further.
His background explains this approach. Trained as an architect in Lille after abandoning his medical studies, Dufilho understands structures. He knows how a framework works, how it can be revealed or hidden. This technical knowledge has nourished his sculptures from the outset.
Gunmetal Symphony also marks a return to his German roots. Having long favored French and Italian brands (Bugatti, Ferrari), he chose a Porsche. It’s not an innocent choice. The 911 symbolizes German engineering, precision and enduring performance. Values that match his approach to the steel tube.
Technology and constraints
Working with stainless steel in tubes requires special expertise. Unlike aluminum, which is more flexible, stainless steel imposes its own rules. Welds must be perfect. Each tube expands differently according to temperature.
In its maritime container workshop near Lille, Dufilho has had to adapt its tools. New welding stations, new cutting techniques. The creative process was lengthened. Where a slat sculpture took a few weeks, Gunmetal Symphony took several months.
The kinetic effect
As you turn around the sculpture, you discover different aspects. A 360° kinetic vision, as Dufilho puts it. The observer becomes an actor in the work. You have to move to understand it.
Perhaps that’s the innovation of tubes. They create a depth that slats didn’t offer. More transparency, more play of light and shadow.
Where to see it
Gunmetal Symphony circulates among the international galleries that exhibit Dufilho’s work. From Paris to New York, the work found its audience. Car art enthusiasts appreciate this different approach.
Stainless steel tubes age well. The work retains its appearance over time. An advantage for collectors who value durability.
The work impressed visitors when it was first presented. Some critics called it a “renaissance of automotive sculpture”. Others see in it an influence of the conceptual art of the 70s. Dufilho, for his part, remains pragmatic: “I just wanted to try something else.”
The monumental version poses logistical challenges. Four and a half meters doesn’t fit everywhere. Galleries have to adapt their spaces. Some exhibitions are designed specifically around this piece. A success that confirms the impact of tubular innovation.
A market that follows
The automotive art market has exploded over the last ten years. Collectors are looking for original pieces. Gunmetal Symphony arrives at just the right time. The small-format versions are finding takers fast.
Prices reflect this demand. An 80 cm sculpture is negotiated in a high range. The monumental version, on the other hand, is a heritage investment. Only a few pieces exist.
Jean Todt, former president of the FIA, owns several works by Dufilho. He has just commissioned two monumental sculptures for his property. Recognition that counts in this milieu.
What’s next?
With this tubular Porsche 911, Dufilho confirms his ability to reinvent himself. Thirteen years after his first Bugatti Type 35, he continues to explore the links between the automobile and sculpture.
Steel tubes open up new possibilities. It remains to be seen what he will do with them in his next creations.
To keep up with Antoine Dufilho’s latest news and discover his upcoming exhibitions in France and around the world: www.antoinedufilho.com and @antoine.dufilho on Instagram.