Journal: This Artist Exploded Your Favorite Racing Legends So That You Don’t Have To

This Artist Exploded Your Favorite Racing Legends So That You Don’t Have To

By Michael Banovsky
April 20, 2016

How he creates his artwork is impressive, but technique is only a part of how Fabian Oefner captures iconic cars in these otherworldly scenes. Around the Petrolicious office, we’ve used a lot of bandwidth simply staring at Oefner’s latest work: racing cars “exploded” into an intricately frozen portrait.

His show, Disintegrating II, is on now at MB&F M.A.D.Gallery Dubai, and is worth examining even though these images were done using scale model cars and a hefty amount of Photoshop. From a sketch, Oefner focuses on the form of how his subjects will look when blown apart. Scale model cars are then delicately disassembled, then placed miniature part by miniature part with fine needles and string. Digital shots are constantly being taken of these pieces through the whole process.

Mind-bogglingly, each of the images you see here are the result of about two months of work, from model disassembly to composition. Oefner deftly combines each part photographed with the rest of the car, creating art that is unmistakably familiar and yet undoubtedly original.

You can view his work at the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery Dubai and at his website.

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Ed Tilston
Ed Tilston
8 years ago

Stunning pieces of work, and would love to get my hands on prints if any are made.

Anthony Guglielmi
Anthony Guglielmi
8 years ago

I like it. I’d buy a large print if it were available. Are any?

Clayton Merchant
Clayton Merchant
8 years ago

Not quite sure what to make of these models, obviously spends a great deal of time and effort creating them and his work is certainly interesting in a twisted sort of way.

It’s almost as if the cars have been frozen in a terrible moment in time immediately after colliding with a train, and yet, like the proverbial train wreck, you can’t look away.

Guitar Slinger
Guitar Slinger
8 years ago

Not to be pedantic or anything seeing as how Mr Oefner’s ‘ craftsmanship ‘ [ this is impressive ‘ craft ‘ not ‘art ‘ ] is quite excellent …. but … look at them carefully …. the parts are falling off/exploding out of order .. the most obvious examples being the transaxles on the GT40 and 956 flying out the back end while the rear wheels remain in place etc . Much as I hate to mention this if you’re going to put that much time and effort into a project .. especially at these prices .. isn’t it worth the extra minute or two to do it right ? In closing here’s hoping Photoshop as well as AutoTune fall out of favor much sooner than later

Told you I’m having a serious Robert Hughes moment today … 😉

Gerhard von Liebau
Gerhard von Liebau
8 years ago
Reply to  Guitar Slinger

What kind of prices are you suggesting? The cost of his labor as a craftsman? The cost of his model kits and computer programs?

MMK
MMK
8 years ago

Wow! incredible…

Brandon Herrera
Brandon Herrera
8 years ago
Reply to  MMK

I agree!

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