The Top Marques Monaco 2010 exhibition was the event chosen for the world premiere of two new sculptures by the award-winning Swiss artist Dante, and the reaction to the bespoke works of art from a host of international celebrities was extraordinary. The annual event, which is held in the luxurious surroundings of the Grimaldi Forum in the heart of Monaco, was attended by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, who made a point of visiting the Design by Dante stand to view the items in person. However, he was not alone in wishing to experience the unique splendour of the artist’s new series of sculptures depicting iconic sports cars, as the star designer Kenzo and Sir Roger Moore were also among those who took the opportunity to discuss the project with Dante in person.
Having created numerous works of art and undertaken commissions of various kinds, ranging from interior design to special work on several legendary vehicles, Dante was drawn to the form and style represented by the modern sports car, and as an artist of vision he determined to produce a limited edition series combining the elegance and expression of the most iconic models. Both full and half scale sculptures of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing were produced in 2009 and these were joined by a quarter scale, 1:4, interpretation of the Aston Martin DB5. The latter was made famous in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, and so it was most appropriate that Sir Roger Moore, a former incumbent of the role of James Bond, should unveil the sculpture to the media.
As with previous years, the Top Marques Monaco 2011 show will be the location at which Dante will premiere the latest sculpture in his critically acclaimed series. The legendary Ferrari 250 GTO has been selected by the artist to be the third vehicle depicted, and a new 1:8 scale version, finished in 24 carat gold, will be unveiled by a famous Ferrari collector. Considered by many collectors to be Enzo Ferrari's greatest creation, being both a highly successful racing car and an outstanding road vehicle, the 250 GTO is a fitting addition to the limited edition works of art. Each sculpture in the series has been created to capture the spirit of the car and the ethos of the period, when art and design were fused in an expression of pure automobile enjoyment. Available in a variety of scales and luxurious finishes, the sculptures represent an ideal investment opportunity for classic car enthusiasts or art dealers alike.
