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.

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.

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 that are also created from recycled materials. 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.

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.