“Viva la Robolución!”+Brauer’s upcycled, retro-futuristic luminous robots to be unveiled at the sixth edition of Design Days Dubaifrom 14th – 17th March 2017
Dubai, UAE – 14th March, 2017: For the first time in Dubai the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery is pleased to announcean exhibit of tenastonishing sculptures by Parisianartist Bruno Lefèvre-Brauer, aka+Brauer, featuringupcycled, retro-futuristic luminous robots.
“Viva la Robolución!”will be unveiled in the company of artist Bruno Brauer and will be showcased exclusively in Design Days Dubai, d3.Following the completion of the fair, the exhibition will continue at the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery,Alserkal Avenue.
+Brauer created his first robot sculpture about eleven years ago in his Parisian workshop just outside of Paris, located in a neighbourhood with a strong artisanal and industrial past. This sculpture had keys for arms and was housed in a simplistic metal case topped off by an insulator.
Born out of what could be termed a poetic resistance to overconsumption, the artist chooses components for his sculptures that have an industrial past. Having been marked by time and boasting patinas derived from hard use imbues the robots with their very specific character and makes them more visually interesting.
+Brauer’s art form is called upcycling, and it is a remarkable concept that allows materials to be saved, reused, and reclaimed. It also offers machines a second life after their primary uses have expired.
+Brauer’s luminous sculptures invite the curious into remarkable and surprising artistic worlds of what was and what could be. And a reminder that even though something is no longer used as it was intended, that does not mean that it is without value.
Method and process
+Brauer takes old mechanical parts that he finds in abandoned workshops and garages and works them into new forms. He has gathered components for years and has amassed quite a collection comprising objects he has found and some he has bought second-hand or from scrap dealers. Additionally, friends and colleagues also keep a look out for him, occasionally bringing him objects as well. As he told Karmapolitan, “For years I’ve been retrieving, sorting, ordering, and storing parts. It is necessary to go through this in order to be able to create with more freedom.”
At times, the sight of just one item inspires the idea for a new sculpture that pops right into his head, and right from that moment he knows exactly what kind of robot he wants to create and the personality to give it. Robots first begin as sketches on paper; the metal objects then are laid together on the floor to test out their shapes and how the pieces fit together, whether harmoniously or not.
Also during the initial sketching stage +Brauer simultaneously works on the lighting design. Then he outfits the robots with lights. These are not the easiest of tasks, however the artist has developed methods for each new challenge in order to obtain the hoped-for results. The electrical circuitry is the most complex part, and it is the element that most vividly brings the robot to life. Each robot has its own specifically tailored lighting system.
Once the lighting and electrics are worked out, he cuts windows into the metal and begins the assembly process. It is challenging to assemble metals that were not created to be put together, and each part reveals its own constraints when assembly is underway, which +Brauer completes using techniques such as sawing, cutting, welding, screwing, and burnishing to refine and adapt the components. Sometimes it is here that he sees what might be missing; some sculptures remain in progress for months until he has all the parts he needs to complete them. Each completed robot is a unique piece.
Robot sculptures
The tenrobot sculptures on show at the M.A.D.Gallery are prime examples of +Brauer creating today’s art out of yesterday’s materials. All of them are gathered in the collection “Viva la Robolución!”, each robot with its own very specific character.
These include the unique piece robots; M.E.A. 2, Billy, Nestor, Oncle Sam, Ernesto, Bambino 4, Pedro, Elvis, Bonnie & Clyde and Champion 750, all of which have been created exclusively for the M.A.D.Gallery Dubai.
Bonnie & Clyde make a dynamic robotic duo, evoking camaraderie and a daring romantic ambience with their carefully coordinated colours and complimentary shapes. At 53 centimetres tall, the pair share the same height however Bonnie keeps trim at 6.1 kilograms while Clyde sports a weight of 7.3 kilograms.
Elvis gives off a loud, carefree presence, as though about to play his favourite tune on the jukebox. At 75 centimetres, he carries off a hefty 10 kilograms well.
Ernesto gives the impression he would make every effort to hear what you have to say, his eager, springing ears seemingly stating ‘I’m a good listener.’
These are a few examples of the open, vibrant characters +Brauer has assembled and breathed life into, most importantly from parts that one may have thought had died out and lost their use.
+Brauer – Background
Following his diploma in graphic arts, +Brauer has worked as a graphic artist, painter, and sculptor for more than 20 years. His style has been influenced by his love of science fiction novels, comics, and American series. Specifically, he has admired the wondrous universes of Metropolis by Fritz Lang and the grandeur of 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick. He also loves outsider art.
His work has been inspired by books, films, and television series that +Brauer loves, but also by the Japanese robots that he has collected for 20 years.
+Brauer showcases his work in the Marais quarter of Paris, a neighbourhood renowned for its creative vibe, as well as various galleries in- and outside of Paris. Incidentally, his showroom is located right in front of the oldest house in Paris, which was erected in 1407.
In addition to +Brauer’s company, we will also showcase a selection of Damien Bénéteau’s “Optical Variations” monochromatic mobile sculptures.
– END –
For further information please visit or contact the below:
Mobile: +971 509116138
E-Mail:
About M.A.D.Gallery:
The MB&F M.A.D.Gallery is a captivating universe of kinetic art where Horological Machines and Mechanical Art Devices reign supreme. The first M.A.D.Gallery opened in 2011 in Geneva on Rue Verdaine, a stone’s throw from MB&F’s offices and atelier in the heart of the city’s old town. A second location opened in 2014 in Taipei then a third in Dubai in 2016. Inside the galleries, you have the pleasure of discovering carefully-curated pieces – or, as we like to call them, Mechanical Art Devices – from around the world, each one making your heart beat that little bit faster. You exhale, only then to find the complete range of MB&F Horological Machines and Legacy Machines.
About MB&F:
Based around one very simple and fundamental ideal: to assemble dedicated collectives of talented horological artisans, artists and professionals – all friends – to design and craft each year a radical and original horological masterpiece. By nurturing teams of talented individuals, harnessing their passion and creativity and crediting each individual's essential role, MB&F uses their synergy to become much greater than the sum of its parts. MB&F is above all a human adventure... a human adventure with just one goal: to create incredible horological machines. 10 years of hyper-creativity; 11 remarkable calibres forming the base of the critically acclaimed Horological Machines and Legacy Machines for which MB&F has become renowned.
About Ahmed Seddiqi &Sons:
Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is the Middle East’s most trusted destination for luxury watches and jewellery, representing more than 60 of the leading timepiece brands across a retail network of 65 locations in the UAE. Established in 1950 through, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is recognized among the leading retailers in the region, advising and enabling both established and emerging watch enthusiasts to increase their passion and understanding of the art of watchmaking. From the most complicated, limited edition timepieces created by the world’s most respected watchmakers to the latest collections of high-end jewellery brands, the company aligns with its customers’ needs to offer the region’s most expansive collection for the coveted collector.
Dedicated to a superlative customer service experience, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons has persistently curated and invested in a highly skilled, culturally aware team for the last six decades. From expert pre-sale insight from its sales consultants to the internationally recognized aftersales offered through the Swiss Watch Services, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is the Middle East’s only retailer which offers its clients a full lifecycle for luxury watches and jewellery. The passion and credibility of the second, third and fourth generation of Seddiqi family members managing the organization deliver a living legacy and dynamic commitment to preserve and grow the tradition of watchmaking for decades to come.
The story of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons contributes to the Middle East’s status as a hub for international trade and economic development. As a pillar of the Gulf’s retail landscape, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons has significantly enhanced trade opportunities with key markets while developing substantial career development opportunities for both nationals and expatriates. Through its ongoing work with the region’s education and cultural communities, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is creating a sustainable platform for watchmaking, servicing, and collecting for the entire Middle East.
M.A.D.Gallery Dubai
Address: H-81, AlSerkal Avenue, Street 8, Al Quoz1, Dubai, U.A.E
Tel.: +971 433 073 66
M.A.D.Gallery Geneva
Address: Rue Verdaine 11, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 22 508 10 38
M.A.D.Gallery Taipei
Address: 1F, No. 10, Lane 101, Sec. 1,
Da’an Road, Da’an Dist.,
Taipei 106, Taiwan
Tel.: +886 2 2775 2768
Follow M.A.D.Gallery Dubai
Facebook: MB&F MAD.Gallery Dubai
Instagram: mbfmadgallery.ae
Snap Chat: MBANDF
For media queries and more information, please contact Zaib Shadani
+971 509116138