Bagatelle 1996
A promotional maverick who retains creative control over every image he produces, Razzia (Gérard Courbouleix-Deneriaz) has conceptualized fresh images for fashion, music, sports, charitable causes and a myriad of events. Ripples of past masters manifest themselves in stylistic touches throughout his works – echoes of Cassandre, Cappiello, Erte and Broders.
Fiat's 1954 Turbina concept car is a befitting image for Razzia's "Louis Vuitton - Parc de Bagatelle Concours d’Elegance 1996" poster design.
Displayed at the 36th Turin Motor Show, people were amazed by the car’s streamlined shape. The red and white paint job made it stand out even more. Jet inspiration could be seen everywhere on the car, including the chrome-ringed turbine exhaust, along with the huge fins.
Fiat's 1954 Turbina Concept Car
"Every great design begins with an even better story." ~ Lorinda Mamo
At the beginning of the 1950s, as a result of the revolutionary advances that gas turbines brought to aviation, the idea of applying similar technology to cars began to take shape among the major manufacturers. Fiat, for example, launched a research project in the late 1940s under the direction of engineer Dante Giacosa, head of the technical offices, and engineer Oscar Montabone, director of the research department.
The result is a futuristic car with innovative mechanics that combines the chassis of the 8V with a gas turbine producing around 300 hp. The powertrain consists of a two-stage centrifugal compressor coupled to a two-stage turbine, and a drive turbine connected to a gear reduction system to transmit motion to the wheels. The engine is located at the rear, on the chassis with four independent wheels.
In particular, the physics of aerodynamics was studied on scale models in the wind tunnel of the Politecnico university, for which a shape coefficient of 0.14 was achieved, which remained a record for over 30 years. The chassis derived from the Fiat 8V, with a two-seater ‘berlinetta’ body with excellent aerodynamic profile, pop-up headlights and fins on the two rear mudguards.
The car reached a top speed of 260 km/h during track tests at Lingotto and Caselle, driven by Carlo Salamano (both a driver and test driver).
The car was presented at the Turin Motor Show in April 1954. However, it remained a research and experimental prototype until being donated to the Turin Automobile Museum in the 1960s.
[Source: MAUTO | Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile]
See It On Your Wall
Posterist, Razzia (Gérard Courbouleix-Deneriaz)
Razzia has gained a distinctive reputation as the last graphic artist who actually earns the title as a ‘poster artist’. In the golden age of posters, the best artists were employed to create unique artist impressions for advertising campaigns without the use of computer generated graphics. French artist Razzia replicates this process by conceiving his posters from an original painting to produce his memorable Art Deco inspired works, without the use of computer generated graphics.
Razzia lives and works in Paris and the south of France. He began his career as a photographer in the music industry and in 1979 he created his first graphic from a photo shoot. This led to publications of his work in foreign fashion magazines.
Throughout his career, Razzia has created an impressive series of works for luxury brand powerhouse, Louis Vuitton. His relationship with the brand began in 1985 and he has worked consistently with the company since then. The poster series for the, “Art of Travelling in Style,” have become some of the most sought after and collected posters in the world.
Razzia has also produced work for the 1984 French Open, Stetson Hats, Lancia Automobiles, International Pret a Porter Feminin, Bloomingdales, Harrod’s, several champagne brands and restaurants in Europe and New York.
Elton John, the late Jackie Collins and Michael Cain are amongst Razzia’s fans.