Automatons

Elizabeth King offers up meticulously crafted, eerily human, yet decidedly mechanical figures, on display at Mass MoCA in an exhibit entitled “Radical Small.” The awe (and creepiness) factor is 10X-ed by the stop-motion videos that accompany the major pieces (alas, you'll have to check those out for yourself). These things are alive, but remain still & silent at the same time. The real gem of the exhibit though, are the cases of test pieces and prototype parts. I’m a sucker for process.

Some of the finished pieces ultimately take years to complete - an investment of time and attention that feels rare in the art world of today. The good stuff takes what it needs.

"Pupil" 1987-90.

Artist studies.

"Plans for Moveable Wrist and Elbow Joints," 1991. "Plans for Moveable Hands," 1991. "How to Make a Thumb," 2008. Additional studies.

"Myself with Other Eyes," 1987-88.