Vitesse series: Antoine Dufilho captures movement in metal
Since 2012, Antoine Dufilho has been exploring the boundaries between sculpture and the automobile. After the Streamline, Solaire and Asymétrique series, the artist from Lille unveils a new technical approach: the Vitesse series. Inaugurated with the Lamborghini Countach, this collection further pushes the boundaries of the representation of movement.
A new stage in artistic research
Antoine Dufilho’s quest has remained constant since the beginning: to capture speed and movement in works that are by nature static. This quest has led him through several technical evolutions. The oval wheels of his first creations were inspired by the world of cartoons. The Streamline series mimicked the aesthetics of aerodynamic wind tunnels. The Solaire technique played on two sets of plates positioned like gears.
The Vitesse series takes the sculptor to a new level. The approach differs fundamentally from previous creations in its direct inspiration: motion blur in automotive photography.
Photographic inspiration from the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Images from the 24 Hours of Le Mans were the inspiration for this new series. When a photographer captures a speeding car with a slow shutter, the machine is transformed into streaks of color and light. This technique reveals something that the human eye cannot grasp in the moment: movement made visible, speed turned into matter.
Antoine Dufilho transposes this sensation into metal. His sculptures evoke what the eye perceives when a car passes at extreme speeds. The artist draws an analogy with the passage of a shooting star in the night sky. Like these celestial bodies that pass through the atmosphere leaving a glowing signature, the supercar launched at full speed becomes a fleeting luminous phenomenon.
A novel plate distribution technique
The Vitesse series is based on a precise technical innovation. The artist has placed more plates at the front of the sculpture than at the rear. This deliberate asymmetry amplifies the sensation of aerodynamic rush. It creates the illusion of a machine cutting through the air at maximum speed.
The blades seem to multiply forward, as if the car were still accelerating. This arrangement captures the precise moment when speed distorts perception. The alternation between full and empty, between reflections and matter, lends a particular dynamism to each piece. Immobile, the sculpture seems to be in motion.
The construction of the works
Every curve and line is designed to evoke movement frozen in the moment. The positioning and inclination of the plates vary individually. This arrangement creates a drag effect, as if the car were leaving behind a comet tail.
The viewer discovers a different view depending on his or her vantage point. The sculpture invites you to turn around it to grasp all its facets. This kinetic dimension extends the work begun in previous series.
Lamborghini Countach: the first sculpture in the series
The Lamborghini Countach inaugurates the Vitesse series. This choice reflects a strong artistic logic. The Countach is one of the most emblematic supercars in automotive history. Its radical lines and futuristic design revolutionized automotive aesthetics in the 1970s. Its angular silhouette marked a complete break with the productions of the time.
This sculpture is not a faithful representation of the original model. It is an evocation of what the Countach stands for: raw power, bold design, unashamed excess. The work captures that split second when the eye perceives nothing more than a drag, when the car becomes pure energy.
Jaguar E-Type joins the collection
The Jaguar E-Type is the second model in the Vitesse series. Presented at the 1961 Geneva International Motor Show, the E-Type was the successor to the XK series. Production lasted from 1961 to 1975. Its design is still considered one of the most successful of its generation.
Antoine Dufilho had already interpreted this model in his Streamline series. The Vitesse version brings a different interpretation of this British icon. The asymmetrical plate distribution technique gives the E-Type a new dynamic dimension.
A dialogue between technique and emotion
Beyond the technical aspects, the Vitesse series has a precise ambition: to represent the very spirit of automotive speed. The sculptures transcend mere mechanical representation. They seek to capture the alchemy that transforms a machine into a luminous phenomenon.
The artist compares this transformation to that of a shooting star. A fragment of rock becomes a luminous spectacle as it passes through the atmosphere. In the same way, the car metamorphoses into pure visual energy in these sculptures. This cosmic analogy enriches the reading of the works.
A series in development
The Vitesse series marks a new milestone in Antoine Dufilho’s artistic exploration. It paves the way for new interpretations of sports car icons. The Countach and E-Type are the first two models in a collection destined to grow.
The sculptor continues his journey through automotive myths, guided by his primary obsession: sculpting speed. Each new piece deepens the research begun in 2012, between technical rigor and artistic expression. All his creations can be viewed in the model gallery on the artist’s website.