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CHAPTER FIVE |
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Rossi. Ducati. Qatar 2011 Well, he finally did it! I’m of course referring to the story everyone was talking about for a long long time. Rossi moving to Ducati. I’m also referring to the news of a new sculpture, I’ve finally found the time to create! This new sculpture is much more abstract than the other bike subjects I’ve created in the past. I thought long and hard about creating this new edition. I wanted it to hold some links to Valentino’s amazing track record thus far, as well as capturing in some way all the buzz and excitement relating to the huge story of him teaming up with Ducati. No other rider anywhere else on our tiny planet gets so much attention from the media. When it was first rumoured that Vale was going to ride a Ducati it seemed every newspaper, every magazine, every web-site, everyone, everywhere, was writing something about the story. |
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So that’s literally the basic idea behind the sculpture.
Valentino and the Ducati are being formed from the written word.
Both rider and bike are shaped from the thousands of stories announcing the new partnership. Both are bursting forth from a huge pile of books, magazines and paper which contain the story.
The title of the sculpture relates to Rossi’s career so far. Chapter one being 125’s. Two, 250’s. Three, Honda. Four, Yamaha and yes you’ve guessed, Five, Ducati. Only an edition of five are being offered for sale. The hard wood base is some 31 inches long by 14 inches wide. The sculpture stands 20 inches tall. Apart from offering the Ducati racing Red and yellow Qatar test version shown here I’m also offering a slightly different painting of the same casting. The black and yellow leathers and black carbon bike version relating to the very first time Rossi rode the Ducati at the Valencia test. As soon as this version is completed, (I’m in the middle of completing it now!) I’ll put some images on the web site ASAP.
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THE MOUNTAIN |
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I’m very aware of the large amount of space needed to display one of my bigger sculptures properly. Not to mention the financial well-being which in most cases is also required. These two new smaller editions hopefully go some way to solving both the sizing and pricing issues, giving everyone the opportunity to buy and collect my unique Speed/Still editions Not meant to be any particular brand of bike nor identified to be any one particular rider, these two editions have been created to celebrate famous parts of famous tracks. Mention ‘The Mountain’ to any serous bike racing fan and the image of flying bikes at Cadwell Park will instantly come sharply into focus. Having spent the same amount of time as every other racing fan wondering just how on earth a racer gets over this large rise in one piece and still manage to be accelerating at the same time is one of bike racing’s serious mysteries. Having spent a long time doing my research the perfect way to conquer ‘The Mountain’ apparently is to keep your rear tyre in contact with the track. That way you keep moving forward… fast as opposed to flying! |
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The Corkscrew needs no introduction. This study as I’m sure you are all aware is the second of the roller coaster hairpin bends that make up the world famous corner. The right-hander at the bottom of the drop.
Both of these editions have been painted in a unique mono style. Then mounted to Ash wood bases. Both including the bases are some 27 inches long and around 9 inches tall. Sale now on! The good news is a matched pair can be purchased at a new lower price of £425.
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THE CORKSCREW |
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GILLES |
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I’ve spent I don’t know how long thinking about a title for this new work. Crazy Diamond I’ve read somewhere. Flawed genius, etc, etc,. But just mention a single first name to any genuine racing fan who knows their stuff and “Gilles” is all you need to say. If you have watched that very famous piece of film recorded back in ’79 at Dijon, You’ll know what Mr Gilles Villeneuve was all about. Gilles is the first subject of a new collection of sculptures I intend to create. Celebrating the best of the best. As with all of my work I have no intention of capturing an exact moment at an exact track. That’s not for me. I like to think that a Speed/Still sculpture captures more than that. If you could condense and capture a drivers skill, success and courage in one split second, I’d like to think this study of Gilles gets it about right. The most obvious difference between all the limited editions I've created before and this new one is the simple fact that you now need a wall to display this piece on, instead of a table. Some 1250x620, it’s a fair size. Each edition as always is cast in a mix of marble resin and metal, then entirely hand painted.
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Hence each edition is totally unique. A very limited edition of only six are currently offered for sale. Not standing still for a second, I’m always looking for ways to offer collectors unique editions of my sculptures. As of now you can order your ‘Gilles’ edition to be painted in one of three different ways. As shown, the first of the six editions is painted on a straight white with red skid mark background. Or if you would like your edition to be totally unique, I’ve created just the one version on a new Rosso red background, the Ferrari attached to this edition is also painted in a slightly looser style. This edition as shown can be hung vertically or horizontally. Or to make choosing your edition even harder, how about the race History edition? Number 5/6. All Gilles race history placings are included on this white/red background. All apart from his DNF’s and obviously any mention of his last drive in Belgium. Currently apart from these two very special one-off editions, only one other casting (number 6/6) remains for sale. POA. |
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TRIPLE CROWN |
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I don’t take on commissions. The subjects and timing schedules are normally all wrong. However when the telephone rang back in September 2008. I knew I should say yes to this one. In fact this is the first commission I’ve ever agreed to create. The photo’s are of the sculpture I created as a thank-you/ retirement gift from Xerox Ducati. It was presented to Troy in the UK at a very special dinner in mid December 2008. Needless to say, Troy was pleasantly surprised by the presentation. A total of only nine editions will ever be created. The one which Troy now has at his home in Australia. One which Xerox own. My own master. And the six signed editions which are now currently for sale. To find out more about pricing and reserving your very own unique edition, please make contact ASAP. Only one of the edition of six are still offered for sale. POA. |
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