CHRYSO VERTICART CARVES A PLACE AT THE LEONARDO

CHRYSO, a global specialist in the chemistry of building
materials, supplied its innovative VerticArt to The Trinity Session for an
iconic artistic creation in the foyer of The Leonardo in Sandton.

VerticArt was the material of choice when The Trinity
Session, a creative production team, embarked on the curation of a sculpted
representation of a cross-section through earth, showing the strata formed by
tectonic plates shifting and colliding, to form the intricate patterns of
geological formations.

Marcus Neustetter, a director of The Trinity Session,
explains that this ambitious project called for an earthy, robust medium.
CHRYSO VerticArt, a cementitious mortar which is designed for application
to vertical surfaces, presented the ideal material.

The chemical makeup of VerticArt allows for a vertically
applied maximum thickness of 150 mm, making it ideal for relief
three-dimensional (3-D) artwork.

CHYRSO VerticArt was applied in various thicknesses and then
carved and textured using palette knives, trowels, chisels, straight edges and
wire brushes, to the exact creative brief. A zero to 48 hour carving window
ensured that the artists had sufficient time to perfect the application and
sculpting processes necessary to create the required 3-D effect.

The mural was intentionally not pigmented, resulting in a
very realistic artistic rendition of a cross-section through the crust of the
earth. This is further enhanced with focused lighting, giving the effect of an
upwards journey though geological eons as visitors ascend the staircase.

This project used 4,5 tonnes of CHRYSO VerticArt, covering
140 m², scaling a height of 15 metres (three storeys). It required
the specialised skills of eight individual artists, in conjunction with the
CHRYSO technical team and took seven weeks to complete.

The scale, innovative material, product methodology and
conceptual approach ensured that the

programme was not just a financial prospect for the materials
supplier and the artistic curating team, but rather an opportunity for
upliftment and growth for many of the artists, including emerging creative
talent.

The artists, Damien Grivas (team leader), Angelique
Koekemoer, Ciara
Struwig, Marlecia Marais, Patrick Rapai, Paul Setate and Zanre Van Der Walt brought their own
technical and creative touch to realising the vision of this work.

Neville Wearne, CHRYSO Southern Africa’s project manager: concrete aesthetics,
says that VerticArt was developed to allow artists to create reliefs and
textures, which can be sculpted and carved.

“This massive and bold statement artwork is a first for
CHRYSO’s VerticArt in both South Africa and worldwide, challenging architects,
designers and artists to further explore the decorative potential of concrete,”
he concludes.

More information at www.za.chryso.com / LinkedIn
: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chryso-southern-africa
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