The Automata of Thomas Kuntz

[T.E. Grau]

Of possible interest to TLO. From his website:

"Thomas Kuntz is a contemporary artist fighting to bring ancient arcana and modern technologies together as weapons for aesthetic enlightenment.

His father, a surgeon, and his mother, a folk artist and doll maker, both provided the necessary genepool and a stimulating enviroment for him to grow into early on.

Thomas has been working constantly as a professional artist since 1986, but his private projects tend to feature the mysterious, uncanny, sometimes darkly horrific and bittersweet sad aspects of human nature. He has devoted a lifetime to acquire the skills of designer, sculptor, mechanician, automatist, animator, modelmaker, painter and conceptualist.

In this franchised world of branding, globalization, automation, compartmentalization and the subsequent general shrinkage and decline of craftsmanship, Thomas is in fact a dying breed and ARTOMIC is a bonafide anomalie. His inspirations span the centuries and are cross-pollinated in subject matter and approach. Dada-surrealism, mechanical engineering, architecture, atom-age kitsch, erotica, exotica, classical renaissance, horology, anthropology, artificial life/androides and anatomy to name just a few. It is not uncommon to see his projects packaged with a strong dose of 'gallows humor' theatrics and magic."

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[Mr.Plores]

Just wow. Tip of the hat for this.

I did not see the prices, but I assume it would be way out of my budget. Can't even believe the amount of work he must have put on those, what would you call them? automatrons? I remember seeing an ancient one from Japan on the interwebs some time ago, made in the 1600's. Amazing things

Some eccentric rich guy with a taste for the macabre should give him patronage.

I want the Prussian Conjurer one.

[T.E. Grau]

We might have to arm wrestle for The Last Russian Conjurer, Mr. Plores. It would go nicely in an illuminated case with my antique Prussian WWI helmet, very similar to the one worn by the automaton.

I don't know if you're on Facebook, but my wife sent this to me last week, and I posted it on my page. Figured you might enjoy a 19th century mechanical doll.

[Karnos]

Wow! These are great! The Babylon Vampire is amazing! Thanks for linking us to this amazing talent!

[Mr.Plores]

Regarding the Prussian doll. Remarkable amount of detail. Specially the left hand of the puppet. It has a shorter arm and it has a prothesis, probably because Kaiser Wilhelm 2 was born malformed with a shorter arm that he usually hid putting his hand on his hip or resting it on the hilt of his sabre.