Racing sculptures cast in a home
foundry
For Argentinian sculptor Serassio, it was
local legend Juan Manuel Fangio who was a key inspiration. “He was an elderly
man when I was young, but his stories and history really fascinated me,” he
explains. “My first sculpture was of the Lancia-Ferrari D50, a car that is
strongly linked to my hero. The biggest challenge was to create a feeling of
movement with a static and very defined shape. That led me to evolve certain
techniques to transmit the drama of speed.”
The
historic link between car and driver is key to Serassio’s work. Here ‘Tim’
Birkin features at the wheel of a Bentley 4½ Liter ‘Blower’
An early interest in metallurgy and casting
started with his father’s jewellery business in Buenos Aires: “My family worked
with metal for many years, and in my father’s shop I learnt how to treat
metals, melt them, give them shape, solder and develop various finishes. Those
early experiences taught me that there are no limits to creation and anything
can be done.”
Serassio employs the ‘lost wax’ method of
casting, which begins with a clay master: “I also use other materials to mould
small details and the faces are separate subjects in themselves. It’s important
to me to capture the cars as well as the characters who drove them. Once I’m
happy with the design, the next step is making moulds in silicone, which allows
copies to be made in wax. A ceramic shell is then created at a very high
temperature before the last stage of pouring in the bronze. The final casting
is cleaned up with files and chiseling, and the extra parts are soldered on.
Once the sculpture is complete, I start to work with special colored oxides to
get the desired finish and patina.”
Serassio’s
favorite period covers the late 1950s, with subjects such as Stirling Moss in
the Vanwall. Below: tribute to Jim Clark and Colin Chapman with Lotus 25
To control the quality, Serassio has
created a small foundry at home: “My workshop is on the first floor above my
rear garage. All of the sculptures are melted and finished here. The latter is
very important to me because it reflects the feeling and idea I had when I
created them.”
Grand Prix and sports-car racing of the
1950s and early ’60s form Serassio’s most influential periods: “I think this
was one of the most heroic and gentlemanly periods in motor sport, as well as
one of the most dangerous. But I can find inspiration from any beautiful
machine, and the Bugattis and Bentleys of the 1920s are very seductive as
well.”
Mercedes
GP and sports-car machinery is a passion, particularly with Fangio at the
wheel. The polished finish is a natural style for the W196
Although competition machinery features
strongly in his work, Serassio is keen to produce more road cars: “The list of
subjects I want to make is never-ending, but the Talbot T150 ‘Teardrop’ and
Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato are top of the tree. I am also very tempted by the
beautiful Bugatti Type 59.”
Figures
are made separately to capture the likeness of racing legends such as Stirling
Moss and Denis Jenkinson on the 1955 Mille Miglia. Left: Bugatti Type 35
