ANTOINE DUFILHO

A sculptor of speed and futuristic impetus

Born in 1987, Antoine Dufilho is an architect by training and a sculptor by vocation, with a marked passion for futurism. Nephew of the famous actor Jacques Dufilho, he is a painter, sculptor, aesthete and undisputed Bugatti aficionado. Lulled from an early age by his family’s passion for sports cars and their undeniable mechanical beauty, Antoine is a self-taught artist who has chosen to dedicate himself to the refinement of legendary and exclusive car models, transforming them into series of varied interpretations.

These model cars, made from hammered and welded aluminum plates and adorned with custom paintings, are true expressions of speed, with their oval wheels evoking the effect produced by the photographic shutter of yesteryear, giving the work an impression of perpetual motion. What is so interesting about this representation? It has the gift of lightening the models, preserving an authentic automotive morphology, and introduces a complex vision of multiple new curves.

Overall, Dufilho’s work is reminiscent of the mechanical art of a car’s engine or grill. For the viewer, it is a unique perception of the model from different points of view. Moreover, by incorporating all aspects of modernity into his work, particularly through the choice of materials, Antoine Dufilho invites us to reflect on technology, art and contemporary aesthetics.

Two monumental works at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

.
Antoine Dufilho, a motorcycle enthusiast, caused a sensation at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023 with two works that caused a sensation: sculpted racing cars that seem to go at full speed, even when stationary! This is not the first time that the sculptor from Lille has done something like this: already in 2021, in Lille, he surprised everyone with his Porsche 911 transformed into a honeycomb of stainless steel tubes. And in 2022, it was at the F1 French Grand Prix, with an F1 car that, despite weighing 1.5 tons, seemed light as a feather.

For the centenary of Le Mans, Antoine Dufilho presented two monumental pieces. First, his Porsche 910, nicknamed the “Chameleon” because of its paintwork, which changes from yellow to blue depending on where you stand. And his version of the 1967 Ferrari 330 P4, already on display at Le Touquet. Here, a hundred aluminum plates play with light and space, creating an amazing effect of speed. The plates, arranged to give the impression of movement, transform the sculpture into a living work of art, ready to jump.

A stainless steel Porsche 911 in Lille for Art Up!

.
For the 2021 edition of the contemporary art fair Art Up!, Antoine Dufilho has surprised everyone with a completely reinvented version of the Porsche 911 in stainless steel tubes. After winning over the public with his reproduction of the Ferrari 330 P4 for the 2020 edition, Dufilho has returned with a grandiose work despite the cancellation of the event in 2021.

Antoine Dufilho used around 150 pieces of tubing, cut and arranged to capture the essence of 911 speed. The slightly oval rims contribute to this dynamic impression. And to top it off, from certain angles, the sculpture reveals a striking honeycomb pattern.