Drawing machine is a construction involving two pendulums, each suspended from a tower construction and connected through « drawing arms » and moveable joints. A ballpoint pen resting on a drawing surface covered with paper is mounted at the point where the pendulums come together. The pendulums are set in motion by hand, and their movements are represented on the paper. The movements of the pendulums affect the entire room, and the experience engages the beholder’s body. While the rhythmic repetitions cause the beholder to pause, the drawing emerges on the paper.
The technique of using weights and pendulums was invented in the Renaissance and applied in the so-called Harmonograph.
Eske Rex is interested in the machine as a sculpture in space, a constantly changing mobile. In addition, the universe in the drawings is interesting by virtue of their spatial, textural, temporal qualities – a never-ending experiment where it is impossible to produce two identical drawings.
Drawing Machine
2009
Wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, ball pen
650 x 650 x 300
Unique piece
Drawing Machine
2009
Wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, ball pen
650 x 650 x 300
Unique piece
Drawing Machine
2009
Wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, ball pen
650 x 650 x 300
Unique piece
Drawing Machine
2009
Wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, ball pen
650 x 650 x 300
Unique piece
Drawing Machine
2009
Wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, ball pen
650 x 650 x 300
Unique piece
Drawing Machine
2009
Wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, ball pen
650 x 650 x 300
Unique piece
Drawing Machine
2009
Wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, ball pen
650 x 650 x 300
Unique piece
Eske Rex’s works are carried both by a conceptual idea and by the materials and the craftsmanship. They examine the effects of force caused by tension between materials and space, in which they are overextended, stretched, split and placed on the verge of collapse. There are no stated explanations – all transfer of information happens on an aesthetic and sensuous level. The traces of craft and the at tention to materials sensuously combine the tangible and near with metaphysical, essential and universal matters. Simple and stylistic, they are cleaned and processed of excess elements in order to concentrate on experiencing the materials of which the works are made. For the same reason they give what can be referred to as a found poetic silence in their presence. In 2010, Eske Rex received the Danish Arts Foundation’s working grant and took part in the exhibition ‘Designers Investigating’ in Øksnehallen, which won an award from the Danish Arts Foundation. In 2011, he took part in MINDCRAFT11 in Milan and exhibited at the Triennale Design Museum, also in Milan, Italy. Eske Rex’ works have been exhibited worldwide, including 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Japan; Den Frie, Copenhagen, Denmark; Verbeke Foundation, Belgium; MINDCRAFT 17, Milan, Italy; Chart Fair, Copenhagen, Denmark (Galerie Maria Wettergren). In 2015, Eske Rex created a monumental site-specific installation for the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands.
