LONDON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 29, 2015 — Jaime Gili, a Venezuelan artist living in London, has a passion for painting abstract art in unusual places and on unusual things. For his latest project, Nomonochrome, Gili is creating his art on a series of timeless cars using Cromax®, one of the three premium global refinish brands of Axalta Coating Systems, to get the stunning finish he wants.
From the left: Toni Chinchilla and Jaime Gili and Cromax finished car; a project by Jaime Gili, courtesy of Jaime Gili Studio
“Nomonochrome is a 10-year project which is running concurrently with my studio work,” explains Gili. “I plan to paint about 10 different cars during this period. I have already completed a Golf Cabriolet from 1992 and am about to start on a Seat 600 from 1971 – a real symbol of the Spanish automotive industry.”
To make his designs a reality, Gili works closely with the AMT body shop in Manresa near Barcelona, Spain. Gili says, “I have known Toni Chinchilla, the owner of AMT, for many years. His body shop has an excellent reputation for its work with classic car restoration and repairs. It also creates and paints bespoke designs for vehicle owners who are looking for something special with a high-quality finish. So Toni was the obvious choice to work with me on this project.”
Gili creates his designs on his computer and passes the plans and exact measurements to Chinchilla, together with color references taken from the Cromax Fan Deck. The whole procedure is a lengthy one.
Chinchilla explains, “as the cars we are working with are relatively old, my team and I start by stripping them down to see if any parts need replacing. There are then quite a few different and intricate stages, including ensuring we are true to the design. Depending on the state of the car and the complexity of the design, the whole process can take on average around 250 man-hours per vehicle.”
Chinchilla has been working with Cromax products for about 25 years. “I have tried many different brands but Cromax is the one that works best for me and my business. I take a lot of pride in my work and it always gives me the results I want,” he says. “Gili’s designs use bright colors and strong geometric lines. So when painting the designs on the cars, we start with the darker colors first and then move on to the lighter ones. The last color we apply is the white because it is the most delicate color to work with. For the next car, Jaime and I are currently testing matte finishes and metallic colors.”
Gili has also used Cromax paints for a recent series of paintings called Exile Fleet, as well as for a number of commissions for larger works on aluminum. Gili says, “It is obviously a very different medium to use compared to traditional paint. I still have a lot to learn, but I am discovering new possibilities and new ways in which to work with it, which is very exciting.”
Anthony Cashel, Marketing Manager for Axalta Coating Systems in the UK and Ireland, says, “I was delighted when Jaime approached us to ask about Cromax. It’s great to see our products being used in unusual ways, and the results are fantastic.”
The Golf, which is for sale, is currently in Spain, where Gili plans to take it to motor shows in Catalonia, Spain, before bringing it to the UK later in 2015. Gili says, “I hope to show it at a few UK motor shows too, and may then take it to Germany. This is a project that I feel passionately about and I look forward to seeing how the future designs will develop with time.”
To see more of Jaime Gili’s work, visit his website at www.jaimegili.org. For more information on Cromax products and services, visit www.cromax.com/gb, or visit Axalta Worldwide at www.axaltacoatingsystems.com.
About Axalta Coating Systems
Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 145 years of experience in the coatings industry, the over 12,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 120,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axaltacoatingsystems.com and follow us @axalta on Twitter.
About Cromax
Cromax, one of the global refinish coating brands from Axalta Coating Systems, is designed to increase productivity from the front of the body shop to the back with coatings systems engineered for fast and accurate application. Our localized business solutions, advanced color measurement technology, marketing support and pragmatic innovations form the basis of a highly-productive refinish process. Cromax helps bodyshops drive their business forward.
