ART WITHIN SURFACES
Spies Hecker Gives Contemporary Artwork a Cosmic Look For his first large outdoor artwork, established American contemporary artist Ricardo Paniagua used Spies Hecker to achieve a visually striking, high-quality and durable finish.
S
olar Radiance is the first large-scale
Base Coat, a vehicle refinishing basecoat that is
Monika Weil, Colour Services Manager for
outdoor artwork by contemporary
available in regions where VOC legislation does
Axalta in EMEA, says, “Bright yellow and
artist Ricardo Paniagua, who is based
not prohibit its use. In the EU, under current
turquoise are not necessarily obvious colour
in Dallas, Texas, USA. The modern work
VOC legislation, its use is limited to industrial
choices for passenger cars and commercial
resembles a three-dimensional plus sign
finishes and other special applications. To give
vehicles, but the option is there. You only
featuring three distinctive colours that
the hypercube its perfect glossy finish, he then
have to take one look at this stunning
Paniagua created with Spies Hecker refinish
used a versatile and weather-resistant VOC
artwork to see what an impact the right
paint, one of the global refinish brands
compliant high-gloss clear coat, that is not
finish can make. We are so pleased to have
of Axalta, a leading supplier of liquid and
available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
played a small part in this wonderful work of
powder coatings.
(EMEA).
art and we wish Ricardo well in continuing
Self-taught Paniagua says, “My sculptures,
“For my colour choices, I was inspired by Vedic
to build his outdoor sculpture collection. We
paintings and mixed media works are
mythology, which has its origins in India,” adds
can’t wait to see what else he might create
usually created for indoor environments.
Paniagua. “The vibrant yellow represents Jupiter,
with Spies Hecker.”
This is my first large steel hypercube, which
while turquoise symbolises the planet Mercury.
Taking six months to create, Solar Radiance
will find its permanent outdoor home in El
The dark grey illustrates Ketu, a descending
was commissioned by The Canyons at
Paso, Texas, where it will be subjected to
lunar node that is often referred to as the
Cimarron in El Paso, a stylish lifestyle hub
extreme environmental conditions such as
shadow planet. It is important that the colours
that combines work, life and pleasure. Solar
intense heat and humidity, as well as colder
stand out and Spies Hecker delivered that.
Radiance will go on permanent, public
temperatures in winter. It was therefore
Using this easy-to-use paint in an industrial
display as part of The Canyons at Cimarron’s
critical that all the materials I used could
application enabled me to achieve the absolute
public art programme.
withstand the harsh extremes they are
highest possible standard in hard edge
exposed to.”
painting.”
About Spies Hecker
Solar Radiance measures 1.82 m in height,
Spies Hecker, a global refinish coating brand
width and length, and is constructed from
from Axalta, develops optimum and practical
urethane on steel, which gives the base of
paint system solutions that make bodyshop
the structure immense water and weather
work easier and more efficient. Originally
resistance. “I did careful research and
from Cologne, Germany, and with over 135
development in my studio, but it quickly
years of success behind it, Spies Hecker’s
became clear that Spies Hecker’s versatile
high-quality product systems, customised
products were perfect for coating this,
service and tailored training demonstrate
the first of my fledgling outdoor sculpture
its partnership with the refinish industry.
collection, as they would give me a wide
The paint brand is one of the world’s leading
range of beautiful colours and, crucially,
vehicle refinish brands, and is available in
durability,” adds Paniagua.
over 75 countries worldwide.
Solar Radiance is made up from three For further information:
perfect blends of yellow, turquoise and
www.ricardopaniagua.art and
grey that Paniagua custom-mixed himself. He applied Spies Hecker Permacron® 293
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© Ricardo Paniagua
N. 68 - MARCH/APRIL 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
www.spieshecker.com