Industrial painting is often associated with structures, machinery, architecture or metal components. But its possibilities go far beyond that.
At Mestres Pintura Industrial, we have also had the opportunity to apply our expertise in a very different field: contemporary art, working on the finishes of numerous pieces by internationally renowned sculptor Lorenzo Quinn.
Lorenzo Quinn: hands as a universal language
Born in Rome in 1966, and the son of actor Anthony Quinn and designer Iolanda Addolori, Lorenzo Quinn is one of the most internationally recognised contemporary figurative sculptors.
He studied at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York and, although he initially intended to pursue painting, he eventually found sculpture to be the medium that best allowed him to express his ideas. The influence of great masters such as Michelangelo, Bernini and Rodin can be seen throughout a body of work focused especially on the human figure.
One of the most distinctive elements of his creative universe is the use of hands.
Through them, Quinn represents concepts such as love, support, balance, trust, hope and human connection. This visual language has made many of his sculptures instantly recognisable.
Among his best-known monumental works are Support, installed on Venice’s Grand Canal in 2017, and Building Bridges, presented during the 2019 Venice Biennale and made up of six pairs of hands symbolising friendship, faith, support, love, hope and wisdom.
The finish is also part of the artwork
In sculpture, form is fundamental. But so is the way that form interacts with light, colour and its surroundings. This is where the finish plays a particularly important role.
Lorenzo Quinn has entrusted Mestres Pintura Industrial with the painting finishes of numerous pieces. These projects are very different from conventional industrial processes: unique works, complex geometries, large volumes and surfaces where even the smallest irregularity can alter the final perception of the piece.
For this reason, every project requires particularly precise work and great attention to detail.
Industrial expertise at the service of creativity
The metallic, glossy or reflective finishes seen on these pieces are not simply a final coating. They help define the volume, reflections, texture and the way the viewer perceives the sculpture.
This is precisely where two worlds that may initially seem very different come together: art and industry. The artist imagines and creates a piece with a specific aesthetic intention, while the technical process must be capable of respecting that vision and translating it into the final finish.
For Mestres, taking part in projects such as Lorenzo Quinn’s is also a demonstration of the versatility of industrial painting and of our ability to adapt processes to exceptional pieces, whether because of their scale, complexity or the visual result they require.
More than 100 years working with surfaces. Even when they become art.
From large structures to architectural elements and sculptures, every surface comes with its own specific requirements. And in projects such as these, technical expertise is placed at the service of an unusual objective: helping to give a work of art its final finish.
Because sometimes, the boundary between industry and art is simply a matter of perspective. And behind a work that moves us, there can also be a great deal of technical expertise.