Stunning assemblages from the retro-future
Upcycled sculptures from German maker Juergen Kloeck
by Jennifer Strand
German artist Juergen Kloeck’s assemblages (the name for using various everyday or upcycled materials to create a three-dimensional piece) look like something that could be featured in an episode of The Twilight Zone, or the 1927 classic film Metropolis, or a steampunk graphic novel. He refers to his style as “retro-futuristic”— combining vintage technical devices with other found objects such as LED displays, intriguing lamps, dolls, and even animal skulls to create a statement.
Kloeck lets the elements he is working with guide his inspiration. His process used to start with a single item that he had found in an antique store, flea market, or on eBay, although now he finds that people are bringing him items to use in his work, including at his local Maker Faire in Hannover, Germany. He then incorporates other curiosities from his collection, or new elements in wood, plastic, or metal, and allows the statement of the piece to unfold as he works. Though each work is different, two things are consistent: a bit of humor and the use of light.
The type of lighting he chooses adds to the feeling and era he is trying to convey. For example, antique incandescent lamps cast a warm, 1920s-style glow, in contrast to the futuristic vibe of neon and plasma light. Powering the pieces can be challenging and he uses a “mix of AC power, different DC voltages, and occasionally high-frequency voltage.”
Juergen chooses not to sell his unique assemblage artworks, preferring to share them with the world at places like Maker Faire in hopes they will inspire creativity and wonder in others.
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This article originally appeared in Make: Volume 96 in the Made on Earth section.