Thursday 16th April 2009

F1 Inspired Sculptures Go On Show

Former Honda F1 mechanic turns to sculpture

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Everyone knows the world of Formula One is a fishy business, but former BAR Honda Chief Mechanic Alastair Gibson has gone to extreme lengths to show the link with top flight motorsport.

For several years Gibson combined his career as one of the top F1 mechanics with his love for art, but has now hung up his spanners and fully submersed himself in his sculpting hobby.

His latest work, entitled ‘Racing Mako’, will go on display at the Chelsea Art Fair, where visitors will get the chance to see Gibson’s unique style of sculpture that combines F1 parts into some familiar sea creatures.

Made with a carbon fibre body, Racing Mako is two and a half metres long, and uses real parts from F1 cars – presumably discarded bits from several years worth of hopelessly unreliable Honda F1 cars – to form the detailed parts of the shark’s body. Each part used in the sculpture’s creation is logged and accompanies the art work, so if you really want to know what makes those Mako teeth look so menacing you can look it up.

Also on display at the Chelsea Art Fair will be ‘Racing Piranha’, another F1 car/fish creation. Gibson’s other works include a mackerel, hammerhead shark and our personal favourite, a trout called... (you guessed it) Racing Trout.

Alastair's work will be on display at the Chelsea Art Fair from 23 April - 26 April. Details of the rest of his 'Racing' collection can be found at www.carbonart45.com.

[Olaf]

Alistair is a lot more than an F1 mechanic, he's an inspirational genius and one of the nicest and most straightforward blokes I have ever met in nearly 20 years of working in Formula One.
Good luck, mate!!

[zevon11]

I think they look stunning, DH eat your heart out!

[yearoneracing]

What is the point of a news piece that leaves out the main details? WHEN IS THE SHOW?

[magic torch]

Love that Mako.

Anyone want to help me 'borrow' it?

[sprinter1050]

Definitely stylish-in a high tech sort of way. Find it hard to believe that EVERY bit comes off an F1 car-even the Pirhana body ??

bet they're pricey too.

[DamoLLb]

Was it 5th gear or top gear that these were featured on?

[Belfast Boy]

These are a work of art,,,,,,what about some insects too?

[dandarez]

CAF is Thurs 23rd to Sun 26th - think tickets can be got FOC.

I love Gibson's work. Brilliant. How sooooooooo refreshing to find an
artist who uses skill.

Wonder where he got the inspiration for fish?
Sharks in F1

So no chance of him getting in the Tate then, for that he would have to throw a pile of crashed, bent Honda panels in a heap.

[IforB]

Love it. They would be things that I'd happily hang from my wall.

[drewcole81]

See now I know that art is in the eye of the beholder and all....

These are FANTASTIC, the man has vision, skill and has ended up with a true representation of a form, being the fish.

More so than the person who can paint 4 different shades of blue on a canvas and call it art then try selling it for £500+.... mind you, more the fool for buying the rubbish, I could do that kind of thing when I was 5.

As for the tate..... pile of brick is NOT art, dead stuff in pi55 is NOT art... and all the other st that stupid 'arty' people think is good and worth spending far too much money on.

But again fool for them and after all.... eye of the beholder.

[hayesey]

those look pretty cool! so has he been basically nicking parts from Honda for the past few years to make these? haha

[mollytherocker]

Not sure if that Sharks rear diffuser is legal.

MTR

PS - They look superb

[The Milfman]

hayesey said:

those look pretty cool! so has he been basically nicking parts from Honda for the past few years to make these? haha

Why do you think they've been so unreliable till now!

[[AJ]]

Umm carbon fibre.

[Steve Gunnis]

They are so cool, I wouldn't care if his parts acquisition was the sole reason for Honda F1's demise, they are excellent. And I am a Honda fan.

[G_T]

Going from car mechanics to sculture?

What a homo.

[J111]

sprinter1050 said:

Definitely stylish-in a high tech sort of way. Find it hard to believe that EVERY bit comes off an F1 car-even the Pirhana body ??

Your disbelief is well founded:

Stolen from here

[_Casanova_]

I need some carbon fibre fish in my life!

[dave71]

G_T said:

Going from car mechanics to sculture?

What a homo.

What a tw4t, can't even spell. Fairplay to this bloke for showing talent in a completely different field. Respect.

[Goose350]

So is there a Fish called Honda in the collection, brilliant work!