First Toros made of glass concrete. All the aggregate was replaced with crushed glass. No problems in making concrete even though glass particles have sharp edges. From the mold surface you cannot see any difference, but grinding and polishing reveal the glass particles. Polishing take slightly more time with glass.
Glass as aggregate gives interesting new possibilities for sculptures. Glass is available in much brighter colors compared with the mineral aggregates. And as transparent material, glass particles create nice lighting effects. The negative issues: crushed glass is rather expensive and glass is not necessarily suitable for out-door conditions, glass may react with cement in moist conditions and causing expansion.
More glass Toros will come.
El Vidrio Azul
The horns may change color as he gets older.
Detail of the polished surface. The max particle size is 5 mm.
TORO 5 TO AALTO UNIVERSITY
A blue Toro (Toro 5 – El Señor Aalto) was gifted to Aalto University Management on 6.3.2020. The sculpture was displayed in the Betoni – Concrete exhibition in Aalto University, Dipoli on 23.1.-7.3.2020. The sculpture resides in Dipoli as a symbol of the multidisciplinary material and concrete research. Toro was received by the president of Aalto University, Ilkka Niemelä.
Special glowing aggregate has been tested in Toros. In the day light concrete looks pretty normal. But when the light are switched off, the aggregate particles are starting glowing. The effect is pretty nice
The manufacturing process is more laborious compared with the normal toros. Glow aggregate particles are needed to glue on the mould surface before the casting.
Glowing Toros (Toro 5 and Toro 7): day – dim – night
Toro del Noche (Toro 5) in day light
Toro del Noche (Toro 5) in night mode
Glow aggregate particles glued on the mould surface.
CONCRETE EXHIBITION AT AALTO UNIVERSITY
The Betoni-Concrete exhibition presents concrete and its use from the point of view of engineers, architects, designer and artists. The exhibition took place 23.1.-7.3.2020 and was located in Dipoli Gallery.
The manufacturing process of Toro sculpture has been presented in the exhibition including the video (see video)
Photos: Adolfo Vera, Aalto University
WOODEN TORO TO KAJ CHYDENIUS
Wooden Toro was donated to Kaj Chydenius on 18.1.2020. Kaj Chydenius is legendary Finnish composer and he had his 80th anniversary in the last summer. The sculpture was made of an apple tree which was originally located in the summer cottage of Chydenius family in Orimattila.
Kaj Chydenius and Toro
Toro – El Señor Chydenius, 2019. Apple tree.
POP-UP WINDOW EXHIBITION IN HELSINKI
A pop-up window exhibition in Bulevardi 17, Helsinki took place on 12.1.-23.2.2020. Different toros and torsos were displayed.
EXHIBITION “TOROS DEL NORTE” IN MADRID
The exhibition at Instituto Iberoamericano de Finlandia on 14.3.-21.4.2019.
TOROS DEL NORTE, 14.3.-21.4.2019
TORO 5 DONATED TO ESTONIA
The sculpture TORO 5 / El Estonia was donated to Estonia. It will be placed in the National Library of Estonia. The donation took place at the Finnish Embassy in Tallinn on 15.1.2019.
Veistos TORO 5 / El Estonia lahjoitettiin Viron valtiolle. Teos tulee esille Viron Kansalliskirjastoon. Luovutus tapahtui Suomen Viron suurlähetystössä 15.1.2019.
Toro 5 / El Estonia
CHRISTMAS TAKE AWAY EXHIBITION AT GALLERIA SAIMA ON 7.-16.12.2018
Presenting four different toro sculptures, including new TORO 10 and TORO MK II. In addition, lot of interesting art.
EXHIBITION “TOROS & TORSOS” AT GALLERIA SAIMA ON 11.-29.4.2018
