Asumptuous treat for lovers of mechanical art is on display at MB&F M.A.D. Gallery at the Dubai Mall till March 30, 2019. Sixteen mechanical insects from the “MeCre” series by German mechanical artist Gaby Wormann, are on display as part of her first exhibition in the Middle East.
“I discovered Gaby’s work on the internet a few years back and was immediately mesmerised,” said Maximilian Büsser, Founder and Curator of MB&F M.A.D.Gallery.
“The incredible mastery of her ‘Mechanical Grafting’ technique is unparalleled worldwide, and the results are breathtaking. Her ‘Mechanical Creatures’ leaves one overwhelmed in fascination and I am thrilled to finally be able to showcase her work in Dubai, after several successful exhibitions in Geneva and Taipei.” – Maximilian Büsser, Founder and Curator of MB&F M.A.D.Gallery
Wormann’s MeCre, short for Mechanical Creatures, demonstrates a rare mastery for creating intricate sculptures that demand an exceptional degree of craftsmanship, the keenest attention to detail and a comprehensive understanding of biomechanics.
After intense research of insect physiques and biomechanics, Wormann takes tiny components from the world of watchmaking and mechanical engineering, such as gears, plates, balance springs and filaments, and incorporates them into the bodies of prepared insects to produce beautiful bespoke mechanical exoskeletons. The result is a series of bionic insects that appear eerily real.
Wormann is showcasing in Dubai her biggest creatures yet, with dimensions of 38 x 32 x 10 centimetres. Among them is a Giant Tarantula with a mechanised body and mechanically enhanced legs; a large-winged giant beetle possessing impressive layers of mechanical gears that endowed it with even more three-dimensionality than Mother Nature provided; and a Scorpion with its super-sized sharp claws and four bionic legs.
Each “MeCre” piece is presented in a solid wenge wooden frame featuring a dual glazing technique, handmade in Germany by master carpenter Soeren Burmeister exclusively for the MeCre series. The wenge wood is very rare, hard, heavy and exceptionally tough. Its high-quality visuals, pleasant feel of its surface and beautiful deep brown to black colouring make it one of the world’s most beautiful and expensive precious woods. The special glass is neutral in colour and is almost invisible because of which the exhibits seem to float in the frame.
“Insects inspire me, they are a marvel creation of nature and very fragile beings. To modify their bodies in a technical way and to give them a new futuristic identity is an artistic challenge – a photo, illustration or digital rendering will never adequately transform my vision as people need to experience it in real life to see the beauty and intricacies of these mechanical creatures. I am very proud to get this amazing opportunity to exhibit my best and most elaborate creations at the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Dubai,” said Gaby Wormann.
The initial works from the MeCre series were commissioned works which were reserved for an exclusive circle of collectors with an affinity for technology and mechanics. In 2013, these rare, one-of-a-kind creations were presented at international exhibitions to a broader public audience for the first time.
Born in Germany in 1966, inspired by the writings of Franz Kafka and the work of artists HR Giger and Pierre Matter, Wormann is an artist who deals with the themes of “individual ethics and humanity’s uninhibited intervention in complex biological systems.” These days she divides her time between Switzerland, Germany and Portugal.
