klapthor's
universal robots
MICHAEL KLAPTHOR
Growing up in the 1980's probably really helped nurture my love of robots. It was a great time for the science fiction genre, with over-the-top tales of science gone wrong or futuristic powers bestowed on common people. I loved these stories as a kid and later came to see how they reflected our more human and social characteristics, even if they were told through robots and superhuman means.
This is how I like to look at the robots I make today — little vignettes of humanity constrained into a rusty robot form. After all, they can't help but resemble their creators - sometimes both our assets and our flaws.
from Pot to bot
CURRENT SERIES
In my current series, I'm using altered forms from the potter's wheel as my main building material to construct sculptures that have a 1950's science fiction aesthetic. The rounded, even forms I can create on the wheel lend themselves easily to recreating this look, and the metal-rich clay and stains I use add rusty, worn character to each piece.
The result for me is a studio full of robots and ray-guns that I hope will resonate with my audience about fun and nostalgia, but also thinking of new ways to employ traditional mediums.
MY PROCESS
