Antoine Dufilho: contemporary sculptures between land, air and sea
Between speed, structure and tension, Antoine Dufilho explores mechanical forms from different horizons. This visual brings together four sculptural works from the worlds of aviation, automobiles and sailing.
The car as a sculptural starting point
Antoine Dufilho’s contemporary sculpture is rooted in the automotive form. His approach, initially centered on the emblematic lines of historic models, deconstructs the bodywork to reveal its internal tensions. The
With Gunmetal Symphonydedicated to the Porsche 930 Turbo, Dufilho adopts a tubular language. The model is reconstituted in rigorously assembled stainless steel tubes, generating an almost vibrating texture. The eye glides through an interlacing pattern that evokes the skeleton of a vehicle in the throes of dematerialization. The form remains legible, but its mass seems dissolved in the air.
In the same automotive family, Dufilho introduces more graphic lines with his interpretations of the Lamborghini Countach Vitesse and Jaguar Type E Vitesse. These two sculptures sharpen the geometry of their respective models. Straight lines, sharp edges, clean cuts: the shapes tend towards abstraction, while retaining the visual codes of supercars.
Kinetic aesthetics and optical illusions
With Chameleoninspired by the Porsche 910, Antoine Dufilho introduces color into his work. The sculpture is based on a two-tone color scheme: blue on one side, yellow on the other. The visual effect obtained by the reverberation of light generates a third hue, green. The observer’s position has a direct influence on the chromatic perception of the object. This principle is reinforced by the longitudinal arrangement of the blades, typical of the Streamline series.
In Red Stream, a tribute to the Ferrari 250 GTO, the plates taper into space, giving the sculpture a semi-transparent appearance when viewed from the front. Viewed at an angle, the line of the GTO reappears, emphasizing the viewer’s visual memory. It is not so much the reproduction of the model as its aerodynamic imprint that is highlighted here.
The viewer no longer simply observes, but becomes an actor in the visual transformation of the work. These effects reinforce the kinetic dimension of his work, without recourse to a motor or real-motion system.
From static volume to monumental momentum
Red Racing Flower, inspired by the Ferrari 330 P4is a large-scale sculpture constructed from 100 red aluminum slats. Each plate is inclined at a specific angle, to create a sensation of floral openness. The base remains unobtrusive, allowing the object to appear to levitate. The eye circulates around the work like a vehicle in full formal bloom.
Formula One continues this exploration of the monumental. It pays tribute to the racing cars of the 1990s. The work synthesizes the spirit of competition through a sculptural treatment of mass, structure and base. The whole forms a dense whole, with gaps running through it, where the lines of force bring out the intensity of the race without referencing a precise model.
In the VITESSEseries, Dufilho rethinks the perception of movement. The Lamborghini Countach Vitesse uses a multiplicity of front plates to accentuate the effect of kinetic blur, in the manner of motorsport photography. This deliberate imbalance in structural density creates the illusion of a car at full speed. More than a reproduction, it’s a visual translation of aerodynamics.
The same treatment was applied to the Jaguar E-Type Vitesse. The curves of this emblematic model are translated into a series of blades whose spacing generates an effect of acceleration. Standing still, the sculpture seems to split the air. This approach blurs the boundary between real movement and optical impression. The viewer no longer perceives a fixed object, but a directional thrust.
Nautical sculpture as a new horizon
With La Dolce Vita, Antoine Dufilho applies his approach to the nautical world. The Riva Aquarama, the iconic boat of the 1960s, becomes the subject of a monumental sculpture. Corten steel replaces wood, mirror-polished steel reflects the environment. The result is an object where the fusion of nautical design and sculpture operates without nostalgia. The structure suggests a glide, a cutting of the water.
J Class, inspired by the competition yachts of the same name, explores verticality. The sailboat is stylized as a column of metal plates that simulate the tension of a leeward sail. The bead-blasted steel creates a diffuse, almost ethereal effect. Presented in Saint-Tropez, this sculpture evokes the regatta not through its complete form, but through the intensity of the movement it suggests.
The nautical world thus becomes a natural extension of Dufilho’s research, where he transposes his play of light, rhythmic cuts and suspended solids.
Figures in the air: Concorde and Rafale
Antoine Dufilho recently began a new series devoted to aviation. The Rafale, which he considers one of the most striking aircraft in terms of its lines, was the first flying machine to integrate his sculptural vocabulary. The design of this piece was preceded by a phase of in-depth technical observation, fueled by a growing fascination with the shape of this aircraft. Seeing the Rafale in flight shortly before completion of the work reinforced the intensity of the project.
The sculptural treatment remains faithful to Dufilho’s approach: the fragmented structure, the reading in successive planes, and the tension between matter and void create a form suspended in space. The aim is not to reproduce, but to extract the essence of aerial dynamics.
The Concorde is also the subject of a sculptural interpretation. Through a longitudinal treatment of the lines and subtle work of light on the metal, the artist makes the momentum contained in the fuselage legible. It’s not the plane that’s shown, but its ability to cross the sky. The elongated volume, sleek curves and reflections reinforce this perception.
In all his works, whether on land, sea or in the air, Dufilho pursues a single intention: to sculpt movement, not as a posture, but as a formal truth. All his creations can be discovered in his online gallery, a faithful reflection of a work that crosses art, mechanics and architecture.