Alastair Gibson is a pioneer of carbon fibre art producing compelling sculptures in his medium as testament to a lifetime spent honing his creative skills. His anatomically correct pieces focus on iconic species in the natural world, drawing on his upbringing in South Africa including childhood holidays on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, as well as making a considered study of the human form.
Gibson first began exploring sculpture in his youth however his father’s involvement in motorsports (Alastair Gibson Sr. is quoted in his later years as saying his faith was “in the power of the internal combustion engine”) and moving experiences at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit near Johannesburg ignited a passion for motor racing. It was a sphere which would prove fertile ground for developing Gibson’s innate talent for ingenuity.
Following an education in balance-engineering, Gibson went on to spend over two decades in motorsports including fourteen years at the height of Formula One – four as lead mechanic for the Benetton team and 10 as chief mechanic for BAR and Honda. This high-paced and high-pressure environment, with problem solving a prerequisite under the glare of acute industry and audience scrutiny, would distil his aptitude, tenacity and inquisitiveness.
After his successes on the Grand Prix circuit, a change of focus would see Gibson enter the art world in 2007 with an innovative approach, bringing immersive engineering expertise, an exhaustive knowledge of his chosen material and a profound desire to explore its capabilities to his sculptures. Within a short time, his artworks would be recognised by collectors and galleries worldwide.
Gibson’s pieces are unique in their use of original parts from modern Grand Prix cars to investigate the physiology, shape and characteristics of his subjects. He has received numerous significant commissions, worked with transformational charities and forged collaborations that express and celebrate his love of his medium and the beauty of the world from which it is drawn. It is fitting that carbon is one of the principle building blocks for life.
