Antoine Dufilho’s monumental sculptures: life-size art
When the automobile becomes an urban monument: Antoine Dufilho’s multi-ton creations transform public spaces from Nice to Le Touquet into open-air galleries.
When automotive sculpture changes scale
Antoine Dufilho doesn’t just sculpt miniature cars. In fact, the self-taught artist creates monumental works from his studio. He built this space from shipping containers in the countryside around Lille. His sculptures defy the laws of visual gravity.
His works transform the iconic automobile into an immersive urban experience. They can be found installed in prestigious cities. Le Touquet, Nice, Sainte-Maxime and Cannes are all home to these metal giants.
The shift from the miniature to the monumental is revolutionizing the approach to automotive sculpture. A work for the living room dialogues with the intimacy of an interior. Dufilho’s monumental creations, on the other hand, make their presence felt in public spaces. They stop passers-by. They redefine the urban landscape.
The dimensions of the impossible: technical and creative challenges
The figures make you dizzy. First of all, Red Racing Flower measures 4m60 x 1m93. This sculpture inspired by the Ferrari 330 P4 actually weighs 2 tonnes. A 2m x 5m base holds it 70 cm off the ground.
Next, Gunmetal Symphony impresses with its dimensions. The stainless steel-tube Porsche 911 is 4.30m long. It is 1.80 m wide and 1.40 m high. Total weight: 1,400 kg.
What’s more, Formula One pushes the technical complexity even further. The work measures 4.30m x 2m x 1m and weighs 1200kg. The artist uses 65 metal plates for this creation. His intention is to create an impression of lightness despite the imposing weight. Each plate has a different positioning and inclination.
Paradox also guides the artistic process. Dufilho creates transparency with tons of metal. The 100 red-lacquered aluminum slats of Red Racing Flower illustrate this concept. They open like a blooming flower. Similarly, Gunmetal Symphony reveals an artistic honeycomb seen from the front.
Ultimately, every material serves this quest for impossible lightness. Lacquered aluminum, mirror-polished stainless steel, corten steel for La Dolce Vita. The artist selects each material for its specific qualities. Reflection, oxidation, resistance: sculpture becomes a sensor of light and weather.
Work in the public space: transforming the urban landscape
The Le Touquet installation remains the most emblematic. Red Racing Flower now stands in front of the Westminster Hotel. La Baule first hosted the work from July to September 2020. The sculpture then found its final home in the seaside town.
Nice also exhibited Red Stream on the Quai des États-Unis. The installation ran from November 6, 2023 to February 28, 2024. The Ferrari red dialogued with the Mediterranean blue. Previously, the Mondial de l’Auto 2022 had presented the same sculpture. Over 400,000 visitors admired it, surrounded by 16 Ferraris.
What’s more, in 2024, Sainte-Maxime will welcome several works by Dufilho. Vivacity and Agility adorn the Route du Plan-de-la-Tour and the Quai Léon Condroyer. Meanwhile, Cannes exhibits Gunmetal Symphony on the Boulevard de la Croisette. Last but not least, the 2022 French Grand Prix presented Formula One on the circuit’s grounds. The installation features a sculpture that captures the spirit of the race.
Monumentality as an immersive experience
Dufilho’s monumental sculptures transform the viewer into an actor. The static object comes to life through kinetic vision. The viewer wanders around the work. The viewer’s interpretation varies according to his or her vantage point.
What’s more, size amplifies the kinetic effect. Take Chameleon, for example, with its blue and yellow sides. The reverberation of light creates an additional color: green. This optical play becomes an urban spectacle on a monumental scale. Seen from 3/4 front left, it appears yellow. But from the right, it appears blue.
And La Dolce Vita marks a new stage. This first monumental boat sculpture is inspired by the Riva Aquarama. The artist blends rusted corten steel and mirror-polished stainless steel. In this way, Dufilho extends his vocabulary beyond the automobile.
What’s more, the environment is an integral part of the work. Reflections of sunlight animate polished stainless steel. Rain patinizes corten steel. Cast shadows change with the hours. Each sculpture lives to the rhythm of its environment.
The monumental future
International recognition confirms this monumental approach. Jean Todt owns three works by the artist. The former president of the FIA has commissioned two new monumental sculptures. They will soon adorn the grounds of his estate.
In addition, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is exhibiting Dufilho’s Bugatti Atlantic. The work stands alongside one of only two original models in existence.
Finally, Antoine Dufilho exhibits in over 50 international galleries. Paris, Geneva, London, Miami, Atlanta, Montreal: the artist pushes the boundaries of the possible. His monumental sculptures go beyond the status of works of art. They become urban heritage, landmarks, meeting places. The automobile transcends its function. It rediscovers its mythical dimension in the public space.