RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The bronze work is the product of artist Mario Pitanguy, and will be on an 80cm podium-shaped stand, designed by engineer Anderson Pereira, for an Urban Hotel campaign.
Pitanguy, who was out of the country when he was invited to sculpt the Brazilian pilot who made history in Formula 1, took six months to finish the work and speaks of his pride in executing it.
“I came back to Brazil extremely motivated, determined to do the best work of my life. It was extremely challenging to faithfully portray all the embroidery in the uniform, but I think the result was pleasing”.
Engineer Anderson Pereira, in charge of building the concrete podium that will serve as a base for the sculpture, does not hesitate about the work and says: “No doubt the quality of Mario’s work makes the tribute to the great Ayrton Senna exquisite and unmatched and helps to highlight Rio de Janeiro in this hall of tributes to the great icons in our history”.
He further explains that, as this is a private company campaign, the work is movable and can be relocated to other parts of the city. Anderson hopes it will be integrated into everyday life in Rio as a positive intervention of art in the urban scenario.
The marketing director of the Urban Hotel, Allan Baptista and part of his team, Ana Júlia and Raissa Zylberglejd, monitored the installation work.
They explained that the new project intends to introduce icons of our time that have stood out in the history of Brazil.
“Ayrton Senna is the first representation for being synonymous with strength and determination; he has the ability to rescue the self-esteem that the Brazilians are needing. Copacabana was chosen because it is a tourist attraction and a place of great activity in our city, but the project intends to honor other celebrities in other Brazilian tourist cities,” explained Ana Júlia.