Moreton Parkour expert Daniel Ilabaca painted by artist Lee Jones for Beyond Human exhibition

Mar 18 2009 Wallasey News

WIRRAL free runner Daniel Ilabaca has been given the “Terminator” treatment by a leading British artist.

The 21-year-old has been painted by Crosby artist Lee Jones for his Beyond Human portraits.

The paintings see top athletes stripped of their skin on the body parts they are most famous for, revealing metallic legs, hands or torsos.

So far the series, which is to be exhibited in the Artists Club in London’s Mayfair next month, includes boxer Ricky Hatton, cyclists Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, sprinter Usain Bolt and Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu.

Daniel, from Moreton, is an expert in free running, or Parkour, which sees him scaling walls, roof-running and leaping from building to building.

He said: “I just think it’s fantastic. The more I found out about Lee Jones, the more excited I got.

“The painting shows who I am mentally and how I feel about myself when I’m moving.

“It shows my drive and my determination and I think it’s really inspirational.

“So many people see Parkour as a sport they can make money out of, but to me it’s a discipline.

Lee, 40, approached Daniel about the project after seeing videos on You Tube featuring his Parkour work.

The self-taught figure painter said: “It’s the best out of all the ones I’ve done for showing the true potential of the human body.

“With Usain Bolt it was just his legs, with Ricky Hatton it’s his arms, but Daniel’s whole body just fits the Beyond Human theme perfectly.”