Surfing out the Metaverse – a celebration of life.
“Surfing Out of the Metaverse,” a dynamic artwork crafted from recycled carbon fiber. This piece redefines the conventional practice of translating real objects into the virtual world by drawing a kitesurf board from the digital realm into reality. Designed by the artist, this board symbolizes the exhilarating rush of adrenaline felt during extreme sports.
11 July 2024
The artwork draws a striking parallel with the renowned “Cristo Velato,” a sculpture famed for its intricate detailing of tissue waves in marble. In “Surfing Out of the Metaverse,” the artist masters carbon fiber to achieve a similarly precious effect. Despite its appearance of soft, flowing tissue, the material is in fact a very rigid structure, showcasing the artist’s technical prowess and innovative use of advanced materials.
“Surfing Out of the Metaverse” is an invitation to bring the vibrancy and excitement of the virtual world into our tangible experiences. The artist’s use of carbon fiber, known for its strength and lightweight properties, adds depth and resilience to the piece. The board’s intricate design and bold colors capture the essence of adventure and the human spirit’s drive to explore beyond boundaries.
This artwork challenges viewers to break free from the confines of the digital world and immerse themselves fully in real-life experiences. It celebrates the fusion of technology and nature, urging us to balance our virtual engagements with genuine, physical adventures. “Surfing Out of the Metaverse” is not just a piece of art; it’s a call to action to live life to the fullest and embrace the thrill of the unknown
Sergio Durante among the big artist of the last century
9 April 2024
It is with immense pride and gratitude that I announce my inclusion in the prestigious 2024 Yearbook of Modern Art Artists. This esteemed publication, spanning 600 pages, showcases the masterpieces of renowned artists such as Chagall, De Chirico, Fontana, Gattuso, Mirò, Modigliani, Monet, Picasso, Schifano, Shimamoto, Warhol, and now, myself, Sergio Durante. To be featured alongside such titans of the art world is a humbling honor. Furthermore, I am deeply moved to have been granted the privilege of adorning the second cover page, a testament to the recognition of my artistic contributions. This recognition serves as both validation and inspiration, motivating me to continue pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and contributing to the rich tapestry of modern art.
My artistic creations are a fusion of sculpture and painting, crafted from a truly unique material: recycled carbon fibers. Utilizing my proprietary technology, I extract these carbon fibers from components once integral to airplanes or motorsport race cars. These fibers, with their rich history and intrinsic resilience, are repurposed to form intricate and captivating artworks that embody a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation.
Each piece I create is a testament to the synergy between advanced technology and inspired artistry. Through meticulous craftsmanship and a mastery of techniques, I transform these recycled fibers into captivating sculptures that evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia. Handmade with care and precision, my artworks transcend their material origins to become powerful symbols of resilience, endurance, and creativity.
I like to envision that each carbon fiber carries with it a story—a tale of past triumphs, adrenaline-fueled races, or perhaps even daring military missions. In my artworks, these fibers find new life, imbuing each piece with a sense of depth and narrative that resonates with viewers on a profound level. From the sleek curves of a race car to the aerodynamic lines of a fighter jet, my creations celebrate the spirit of exploration, innovation, and human achievement.
Join me on a journey through time and space, where the echoes of the past mingle with visions of the future. Through my art, I invite you to experience the beauty, complexity, and boundless potential of recycled carbon fibers—the building blocks of a new artistic frontier.
But look at the hydrogen silent in the sea Look at the oxygen next to her sleeping Only a law that I can understand She was able to marry them without making them explode… Fabrizio De André, “A Chemist” from “Not to money, not to love nor to heaven”, 1971
15 March 2024
The background
1950: Mr. Abbott produces carbon fiber by bringing rayon to a temperature of almost 1000 °C, obtaining a material resistant beyond belief. 1958: Roger Bacon, materials scientist, creates the first high-performance carbon fiber. A year later, Akio Shindo improves the characteristics of carbon fiber produced from polyacrylonite. E. Fitzer and H. Schlesinger, in 1966, produced carbon fiber from the gaseous phase..
The meaning
To avoid dusting off elements of chemistry and physics hidden in the abandoned school books on the top shelf of the bookcase, let’s think about the nose of a racing car of the kind driven by Mr. John Watson in 1981. On a Saturday in July, at Silverstone , in the racetrack created from a runway of a military airport during the Second World War, Watson drives a Mc Laren MP 4/1, made with a carbon fiber monocoque. He wins and inaugurates an era that still speaks volumes about him today, as in bicycles, tennis rackets, protective helmets, aircraft coverings, canoes and in many, many fields of application. We would have liked to see the faces of the mechanics from the other teams, accustomed to the clang of the nose being detached from the cars they were assisting, suffering from the cuts caused by the sheet metal, metal that became incandescent due to the friction and heat of the cars launched at impossible speeds. Some turned up their noses, others christened the matter as a gimmick with no future. But everyone, all over the world, had to change their minds, and today the “made of carbon fiber” is usual, customary. Even discounted.
A material that smells of modernity and of the future, which covers the slender body of fighters launched in the skies of the world, which lightens the structures and offers resistance greater than that of steel. When the carbon fiber racket was proposed to tennis players, the woods of the glorious previous ones sadly went into retirement. The wrist worked free from excessive weight and the ball shot away faster than ever. We leave the details to the technicians, but take that invention as the first data to evaluate the work of an artist who produces contemporary art with carbon fiber: Sergio Durante. He certainly has the notions of a sculptor, or, better, of a modeler who has in his fingertips the ability to feel the material and make it come alive under the command of inspiration and the mind. He has respect for the forms that marble, stone, bronze and wood have received from the masters of past centuries, and he often takes inspiration from the historical three-dimensional ones to revisit well-known sculptures. Above all, he has a clear perception of the concept of the future, well planted on scientific criteria of solidity, realism and respect for the past. But, let the technologists-at-all-costs not be scandalized, he has the imagination, curiosity and romanticism necessary to face the creation of a work of art with a dreamer’s spirit.
….
A delicate and tiring composition, a meeting of technique, style and class. A continuous echo of classical notions of immortal Greek and Roman art. By proposing his works through the processing of carbon fibre, Durante writes a new era, sweetens the pill for purists and stimulates the imagination of those who are always ready for new frontiers. In this, and in his frequenting of environments in which the lightness of the fiber is a fixed rule, lies his exclusive and precious activity as an artist: adapting to the taste of those who love to stand out in their choices all those studies and efforts that have already led him to tops of industrial production for racing cars, airplanes, hulls. He does so without ever forgetting that he is an Italian in the category of Filippo Parodi, a magnificent sculptor in eighteenth-century Genoa, and that of Giovanni Andrea De Ferrari, who with his works made the excessive economic power of the Republic of Genoa resonate. The spirit of the lover of the endless classic is indeed the stimulus that brought Sergio Durante this far, that is, to a very high point in the quality and values of Italian art that travels the world.
Giorgio Barassi
Director of Art & Art Revue – December/January 2023-2024
Art Critic and Anchor man of the ‘Art&Investment’ SKY TV Channel
This year marked a thrilling shift in our racing experience as we navigated the vibrant streets of Dubai and the all the 7 Emirates for the iconic Mille Miglia event. Departing from tradition, we opted for a powerhouse of performance, the awe-inspiring Porsche Turbo S, meticulously prepared by the skilled hands of D4S Motorsport and driven by Sergio Durante and Veronika Statauskiene.
Dubai Skyline
Dubai, with its dazzling skyline and cutting-edge architecture, provided a stunning backdrop for this exclusive race. The city’s blend of modernity and luxury set the stage for a unique twist on the classic Mille Miglia format.
The Porsche Turbo S, a true beast of power and handling, effortlessly conquered the urban landscape. Its 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine unleashed an impressive 770 horsepower, propelling us through the streets with unrivaled speed. The streets of Dubai, known for their opulence and grandeur, became the racetrack for this extraordinary event.
As we maneuvered through the city’s twists and turns, the Turbo S showcased its prowess, seamlessly blending raw power with precision handling. The aerodynamic design and advanced engineering of the car ensured a thrilling performance at every corner.
In the midst of the race, the city’s unique charm added an extra layer of excitement. The juxtaposition of traditional souks and futuristic skyscrapers created a dynamic course, demanding both speed and finesse.
The exclusivity of the Mille Miglia of Dubai mirrored the sophistication of the landscape itself. With a carefully curated lineup of participants and the roaring Turbo S leading the pack, the event exemplified the epitome of automotive excellence.
In conclusion, the Mille Miglia of Dubai, set against the stunning backdrop of this cosmopolitan oasis and the desertic and mountain landscapes, proved to be an exhilarating fusion of tradition and modernity. The D4S Motorsport Porsche Turbo S, driven by Sergio Durante and co-driven by Veronika Statauskiene, showed to be a true marvel of engineering, left an indelible mark on the streets of Dubai, making this exclusive race an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike.
Race Car and Co-Driver
A Symphony of Elegance: Unveiling the Masterpieces of the Mille Miglia Middle East
The Most Beautiful Race in the Middle East set to grace the roads of the UAE once again in December 2023, promising a spectacle of automotive magnificence like never before. The air will resonate with the purr of engines and the timeless beauty of classic cars as they embark on an exhilarating journey through an exciting new route.
At the start in the Meydan
This year, the event has expanded its horizons, welcoming an impressive lineup of 120 cars that embody the essence of automotive artistry. Each vehicle, a masterpiece on wheels, tells a story of passion, craftsmanship, and the timeless allure of classic motoring. From sleek curves to roaring engines, the Mille Miglia Middle East brings together a collection of automotive gems that span the ages.
In response to the overwhelming demand from collectors and enthusiasts, the event organizers have curated an exceptional fleet, offering participants the chance to revel in the unparalleled experience of a regularity rally that transcends the ordinary. The diverse array of cars, ranging from iconic vintage models to contemporary classics, showcases the rich tapestry of automotive history.
As a special treat for the adventurous drivers, this year’s route extends to the Sultanate of Oman, embracing the breathtaking driving roads of the Musandam Peninsula. With its sinuous ribbons of tarmac cutting through majestic mountains, the journey promises an adrenaline-fueled experience like no other. The Mille Miglia Middle East continues to be a celebration of not only the beauty of the cars but also the spirit of exploration and camaraderie among enthusiasts.
Get ready to witness a symphony of elegance as the Mille Miglia Middle East unfolds, bringing together the most remarkable classics against the picturesque backdrop of the UAE and the rugged landscapes of Oman. This is more than a race; it’s a timeless ode to the allure of automotive excellence.
The aerospace future is embracing the hybrid technology, but not as you think
Quick question
Why Full Electric is not yet competitive at all with conventional thermal engines? Simply because the energy density ratio between jet A1 fuel and the best battery in the market is 1 to 30. Means that the energy stored in a kg of jet fuel needs to be replaced with 30kg of battery. So the ‘fuel’ will weight 30 times the current one.
Quick conclusion
If we want to build a full electric airplane, and we expect to have the same range of a normal jet airplane replòacing the thermal engine with electric engine… simply we will build an airplane that cannot fly because its weight is over what it can lift up.
By the way
Some innovations are anyway possible, like the one we are bringing ahead, in order to increase the efficiency of the current state of the art, like using system able to convert all the energy wasted in heat, turbulences, and other in electric energy available for the services.
Sergio Durante reveals the new fine artworks totally handmade on recycled carbon fibres
1 December 2022
The background
As already highlighted in the Napster, man is, at the same time, a fugitive from danger but greedy for gains. The creepy AVATAR represents, at the same time, a virtuosity in the processing of recycled carbon fibers, and an extremely impressive and visually powerful work. Entirely made of recycled carbon, it rests on another carbon work that develops vertically in three dimensions.
The meaning
The AVATAR, as a mask and disguise for which anyone can be anything, may appear to be an instrument of freedom, revenge and catharsis. But no: it imprisons and forces us into a false and inconsistent reality. In his investigation, White Blood reveals the deception and through art staging the opposite process. It is the avatar, the fictional character who exists only in the metaverse, who now emerges to become more concrete and tangible than reality itself. The shapeless magma of carbon fiber lends itself perfectly to immortalizing the moment in which the lie is revealed and becomes a physical object by appropriating a material, recycled carbon, which belonged to something that is no longer in the world and which now adapts to represent an object of the imagination that comes to life.
As already highlighted in WhiteBlood Napster, man is, at the same time, a fugitive from danger but greedy for gains.
This is the principle underlying the analytical richness of the philosophy of the great Nicolo Machiavelli.
The dematerialization of wealth creates insecurity in man, but driven by greed, man is driven to ever more daring financial speculations which have been partially offset by the possession of objects representative of wealth such as shares in paper form. The stock was the last bastion of a physical and material representation of wealth. Paper that deprives goods, machinery, desks, men and women of matter and blood and which is definitively extinguished at the digital frontier, becoming simple information, shreds of bits supported by other shared substructures that are defined as real for this reason alone. , the fragile reality, therefore, the theme of the philosophical and artistic investigation of the WhiteBlood collective.
The collective exhumes the paper and the title, now devoid of any value and charges it with substance, art, color and human warmth and thus takes up materiality, strength, value, humanity, uniqueness, gravitational dance between opposite values that disorients, annihilates and that it evokes the primordial pheromone of possession, of control, an archaic thrust in the human being.
The paper thus returns to being real, in its ecosystem that actually brings back the value, the money, the work that that paper represented or claimed to represent.
The title had value because it represented a value recognized by the reference system. The stock title lives on today and becomes Art.
Art that takes on value and therefore returns to being a commodity and to be exchanged between collectors capable of grasping the multiple vibrations and conceptual alliterations that this Work can offer.
The meaning
Pfizer’s work is heavy, full of meaning, it represents dissolution and recomposition, it presents a point of contact with the title because art exists, if enjoyed, possessed, touched, exchanged.
And all these meanings seem compressed in the Work which is pushed, broken, compressed, closed, dissolved and reassembled with sudden and uncontrolled escapes.
the desire for contact and possession is also amplified by a lively, seething, erotic and rampant aesthetic.
Pfizer is the first work to be represented as a 9-piece original artwork from Pfizer Inc.
The present work “Pfizer Wall” which leads the collective to the creation of a wall dedicated to the pharmaceutical company Pfizer capable of offering a historical and current cross-section of contemporary society.
The wall will be composed of 9 original pieces and full of the artistic warmth of our collective of artists, researchers and craftsmen.
We like to change every now and then. This year, as usual, we took part in the famous HillClimb Race Cesana Sestriere, but instead of using a real racing car, we opted for a pure sports car, the fantastic Porsche Gt3.
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a high-performance homologation model of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is a line of high-performance models, which began with the 1973 911 Carrera RS. The GT3 has had a successful racing career in the one-make national and regional Porsche Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge series, as well as the international Porsche Supercup supporting the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The car used in the climb has a 4.0 liter engine, 510 hp at 9000 rpm, an incredible sound and a racing car setup.
Driving impression
The first thing that you appreciate in the GT3 is the perfect seat position and alignment with the driving wheel. The driver position is comfortable and permit to concentrate on the driving.
Being a ‘almost’ racing test, first thing to appreciate is the launch control, that permit to leave the start line in a very effective way despite the still cold tyres. The rear tyres are kept by the electronic at the adherence limit to the ground and some skids happens but easy to control. At the first U-turn you understand that the brakes must be pressed with a lot of energy, but they are very effective, and the ABS intervention is very rare on the clean asphalt. The suspensions are very effective and the car does not show any disturbing roll and pitch.
The steering is direct and precise, very effective both on the slow and fast turn. Personally I would have keep a bit more distance, ergonomically speaking, between the gear pads and the other commands (turn lights and wipers). In fact, if you have big hands or wearing gloves the space is not enough.
The suspensions are excellent, in particular on this type of roads, used everyday by the normal traffic, so a bit bumpy and irregular.
The engine is powerful and very effective, specifically at high revs, over 5000 rpm. Personally I prefer to change manually the gears with the paddles shift, and i prefer to do it earlier than the 9000 rpm limit, to preserve a bit the stress on the mechanic. But this is the typical engineers paranoia :-). Sound is beautiful, metallic, very aggressive. And you can reach high speed very quickly.
Despite the test was carried out at high altitude, between 1000 and 2050 m over the sea level, the engine, atmospheric, was still pushing quite good. Of course the turbo version like the Porsche GT2 or Turbo are practically not affected by the altitude.
In conclusion a fantastic car, fast, very fast and pleasant to drive. Very similar to a race car, and very effective. In a timed test I think that can leave behind a lot of race cars.
Man is a fugitive from dangers but also greedy for gains. This is the principle underlying the analytical richness of Machiavelli’s philosophy.
The dematerialization of wealth creates insecurity in man but driven by greed, man is pushed to ever more daring financial speculations which were partly offset by the possession of objects representative of wealth such as shares in paper form.
The stock certificate was the last bastion of a physical and material representation of wealth. Paper that deprives goods, machinery, desks, men and women of matter and blood and which is definitively extinguished at the digital frontier, becoming mere information, shreds of bits supported by other shared substructures that are defined as real for this reason alone. , the fragile reality, therefore, the theme of philosophical and artistic investigation of the collective WB.
WhiteBlood interpretation of the titles
The collective exhumes the paper and the title, now devoid of any value and charges it with substance, art, color and human warmth and thus takes back materiality, strength, value, humanity, uniqueness, gravitational dance between opposing values that disorients, annihilates and which evokes the primordial pheromone of possession, of control, an archaic thrust in the human being.
The paper thus becomes real again, in its ecosystem which brings back into reality the value, the money, the work that that paper represented or pretended to represent.
The title had value because it represented a value recognized by the reference system. The paper stock option today comes back to life and becomes Art.
Art that takes on value and therefore returns to being a commodity and to be exchanged between collectors capable of understanding the multiple vibrations and conceptual alliterations that this Work can offer.
The Meaning
The Napster work is heavy, full of meaning, it represents dissolution and recomposition, it presents a point of contact with the title because art exists, if enjoyed, possessed, touched, exchanged.
And all these meanings seem compressed in the Work that is pushed, broken, compressed, enclosed, dissolved and reassembled with sudden and uncontrolled escapes. The desire for contact and possession is also amplified by a lively, seething, erotic and rampant aesthetic.
Napster is the first work to be represented as a single work composed of the original stock of Napster Inc.
Napster, Inc. was a pioneer of music sharing via the internet, questioning the conceptual and legal framework within which the musical work was protected and the investigation of the collective lends itself to unleashing conceptual, legal and social reflections with their work. about the untouchability of the Art that Napster vainly sought to demolish.
Napster has spread the idea that art belongs to everyone and that the legal enclosures in which it is compressed are fallacious, fragile reference systems that need a total rethinking so that art returns to being vivid and alive.
Future work
The next work on the Pheromone theme is ‘Oil Art Wall’ already commissioned and which leads the collective to the creation of a wall dedicated to a famous Oil Company to recall the links to the Cracking art project.
The wall will be made up of 9 original pieces and loaded with artistic warmth from our collective of artists and craftsmen.
This will be followed by another work “Pfizer Wall” which leads the collective to the creation of a wall dedicated to the Pfizer Pharmaceutical company capable of offering a historical and current cross-section of contemporary society.
Dr. Nickolas Ridgway and Dr. Eng. Sergio Durante participated at the International Conference TRAM (Trend in Advanced Machining, Manufacturing and Materials) in Chicago at the IMTS 2014, the famous Machine Tool and Robotic fear in USA. They presented a new approach on the manufacturing of high quality components for motorsport and aeronautic sector, based on a life cycle approach. This permits to achieve better, faster and less pollutant components with respect to the previous technologies. Some of the technologies and results were developed and tested in the European Funded Project REFORM, dealing with advanced composites materials.
