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“I imagined ’11 Turns’ as the answer to the question of what a perfect lap looks like with Hélio behind the wheel,” says Dwayne MacEwen of DMAC architecture and interior studio as he introduces his latest sculpture, the ‘11 Turns’. In addition to the Auto car racing season flowing in, this sculptural depiction of Helio’s flawless 2+-miles circuit lap has been a delight for all the Formula racing enthusiasts. MacEwen delectably presents the Concours Club in Miami with the '11 Turns' sculpture, which is indeed a subtle ode to the renowned Brazilian car racer Helio Castroneves. Helio, with a record-equalling four wins in the Indianapolis 500 has a star-studded career in the Auto racing championships and in fact, happens to be one of the most popular racers in Formula 3 and the Indianapolis racing fraternities. He is also a member of the Concours Club where the sculpture has been presented.
Dwayne MacEwen crafted the intertwining assemblage by studying the unique acoustics of different drivers on an FIA grade circuit. To develop this unique, 400-pound sculpture, Dwayne sketched the acoustics by understanding the curvature of every lap, apex, turn and acceleration. He recorded a precise audio representation of Castroneves' lap by positioning audio equipment at every turn which further created a rather rhythmic ensemble of crests and troughs derived from power and speed.
“As individuals, each of us is so incredibly unique, and driving a course is no different. Each driver develops their own individual pitch that is also specific to the circuit,” shares MacEwen. “The sound of motion kept coming into my mind listening to drivers each make their own unique acoustic representation while driving the circuit. The special cadence of what a lap at The Concours Club sounds like fascinated me, and that’s when I had the idea of bringing physical form to Hélio (Castroneves) driving The Concours Club in sculpture,” he adds.
“The physical manifestation of sound that 11 Turns represents in sculpture is an interesting idea,” notes Four-Time Indy Car Champion and recent 24 Hours of Daytona Winner Hélio Castroneves. Seeding from a sketch, the sculpture was studied, enhanced and initially assembled as a framework using 11 pieces of armature wire. Then it was geometrically refined and precisely bent as a continuous loop using 11 steel pipes of 2.25-inch diameter each. Engaging in a one of its kind crafting technique using a unique machine, each piece was then custom bent, welded and polished to create the final sculpture; transported from DMAC’s studio in Florida to the Club in Miami for suspension.
The sculpture is a distinct pitch of a rhythmic performance that is more akin to a delightful dance than a competitive battle. It materialises the feeling of adrenaline kicking in and the constant rush of twists and turns that every Autocar Racer experiences.
“Drivers often know what a perfect lap sounds like at circuits they know well. A driver must always be attuned to their environment and the pitch of good movement driving out on the track provides its own symphony. Seeing my driving in motion as an acoustical presentation suspended in the air at the Verge restaurant here at The Concours Club is a real honour and fascinating to see,” shares Castroneves.
Dwayen MacEwen of DMAC Architecture and Interior studio works as an innovative designer, positively bridging the gaps between art and architecture. MacEwen and his design studio aim at creating self-reliant and unique spaces through art and architecture.
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