Carbon David by Alastair Gibson
Introducing Carbon David- a bold reimagining of Michelangelo’s David in solid carbon fibre.
A culmination of the artist's engineering and artistic expertise that pushes the boundaries of his medium and challenges our understanding of religious history, gender, and the notion of change.
With a career in the engineering and motorsport industry spanning over two decades, it’s no surprise Alastair seeks success through modification, alteration and development…one of the reasons behind Carbon David’s interactive features.
Beneath Carbon David’s seamlessly concealed chest plate is a chest cavity that houses one of three carbon hearts- inspired by Carbon Art 45’s original Engineered Emotion sculpture, representing kindness, passion and courage in Gold, Red and Purple.
When displayed individually, these hearts are sculptures within themselves but when placed inside the chest cavity with anatomically correct ‘arteries and veins’ they bring Carbon David to life and make it unmistakenly an Alastair Gibson piece of art.
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Aside from anatomy, interchangeable elements also include stones, slings, jewellery and other accessories.
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Michelangelo’s David clutches a marble stone in one hand and a sling in the other, therefore the inside of his hands have never been visible. Alastair chose to make 5 different versions of Carbon David’s stone showcasing various carbon fibre techniques.
Gender and Change
‘Gender’ and ‘change’ are prominent themes throughout this sculpture and both are considered interconnected in today’s contemporary society…although that was not always the case. Carbon David can be presented as either male, female or gender neutral to challenge such outdated ideologies.
This leads to the question-Is it conceivable that a woman could have Slayed Goliath?
Due to the nature of carbon fibre, this monument will undoubtably out-live us all and we hope that whoever makes its discovery in centuries to come will question or better yet-assume the gender norms of our generation.
The Making of Carbon David
Read our 'making of' blog post to get better insight into why and how this sculpture was made over the course of 4 years!
We talk you through the processes, techniques and challenges from its conception to its unveiling at Saatchi Gallery.
Videos
Saatchi Gallery | Focus Art Fair
Alastair Gibson and Carbon Art 45 launched Carbon David- our most ambitious sculpture to date, at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery in London with Focus Art Fair from 10-13 October 2024.
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