A large metal sculpture, a tribute to the motoring pioneer and co-founder of the Chevrolet brand, was presented and unveiled in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds.
This abstract work was selected by a commission to celebrate the brand's 100th anniversary in November 2011. Today, it was formally handed over to Louis Chevrolet 's hometown by dr. Thomas Sedran , President and CEO of Chevrolet Europe .
The sculpture consists of an inverted bust of Louis Chevrolet . It is the work of Christian Gonzenbach , an artist based in Geneva. He created it from polished stainless steel, and with a height of over five meters and a weight of eight tons , it is the largest of its kind in Switzerland.
“ Chevrolet is known around the world as one of the most iconic American brands. The man who founded it more than 100 years ago spent the first years of his life here in La Chaux-de-Fonds. We are proud to pay tribute to our Swiss roots and our connection to Louis Chevrolet 's hometown by handing over this unique work of art to the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds ," said Sedran .
The unveiling and handing over of the statue was attended by representatives of the city and the Chevrolet company, as well as residents of the Parc de l'Ouest park, where the statue was erected a few days ago.
" We are delighted with this extraordinary work of art ," said Théo Huguenin-Elie , member of the city council and head of the urban planning department of La Chaux-de-Fond. " The statue of Louis Chevrolet is a significant landmark, emotionally contributing to the cultural heritage of the region. It will give us an excellent opportunity to communicate about an important son of our city, as well as about the creative forces that La Chaux-de-Fond has set in motion, which are of global importance ," said Huguenin-Elie .
The art competition was announced in the year of the 100th anniversary of the Chevrolet brand
The statue was designed by Christian Gonzenbach , who was the winner of an art competition launched on November 3, 2011, the 100th anniversary of the American brand. An international jury, made up of representatives of the Chevrolet brand, the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds and artists, evaluated Gonzenbach's project as the best of the rest of the very creative proposals.
" I am grateful for the trust that Chevrolet and the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds have shown in my project, " said Gonzenbach . “ I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work on such a scale, and Louis Chevrolet 's pioneering spirit has really motivated me. Louis Chevrolet designed innovative cars and engines and won many races. He changed the impossible into the possible. And I was able to do the same thanks to this project, " added the artist from Geneva.
Artistic ingenuity
The sculpture of Louis Chevrolet , with a surface of shining metal, was cast and welded over the course of twelve months in a specialized foundry in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. “ Louis Chevrolet 's sculpture is the most significant publicly accessible work of art I have created to date. When I realized the scope and complexity of the project, it became clear to me that I had to think differently than usual and create a team of very capable people: 3D experts, designers, casters, welders, polishers, etc. And I succeeded ," said Christian Gonzenbach .
Although the statue is heavy, it looks very light. You don't actually feel the metal; the mirror-glossy surface of the sculpture reflects the image of the surroundings. The colors keep changing with every cloud that appears in the sky. It's really fascinating. "
The surface of the eight-ton sculpture consists of 71 plates of highly noble, stainless steel. In its interior, structural stability is ensured by metal beams and reinforcements. The lower part of the beams also serves for fixation and is anchored in the foundations of the statue.
The statue rests on a 28 cm high pedestal made of black concrete. Its fixing elements pass through the plinth into the foundations and thus securely connect the statue to the ground. The work is located in the Parc de l'Ouest of La Chaux-de-Fond. The event was managed by Friederike Schmid , an experienced manager of site-specific art projects.
La Chaux-de-Fonds is an important center of Swiss watchmaking and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For example, the world-famous architect Le Corbusier and the 19th-century writer Blaise Cendrars were also born here.
The statue of Louis Chevrolet – the time sequence of the realization
· October 2011 Parc de l'Ouest chosen as the place where the statue will stand
· November 3, 2011 Announcement of the competition at the press conference for the 100th anniversary of the Chevrolet brand in La Chaux-de-Fonds
· March 2012 Announcement of the winner of the competition
· June 2012 Production begins at the Taiwanese foundry
· April 2013 Start of preparatory work in Parc de l'Ouest
· August 6, 2013 The statue left Taiwan
· September 2013 Louis Chevrolet statue arrives in Rotterdam
· October 3, 2013 Unveiling and handover in La Chaux-de-Fonds
Source: Chevrolet
