Birgit Borstelmann

Atelier für mechanische Objekte

Automaton builder

©Borstelmann

The craft that awakens people's desire to play

Birgit has been fascinated by mechanisms and mechanical objects since childhood
She enjoys giving objects a second life by using spare parts to make her creations
Her works are at once art objects and toys for adults

Birgit Borstelmann creates objects that make people smile. Originally from a tiny island in northern Germany, she grew up by the sea, surrounded by many boats and harboured a fascination for mechanical objects. Now, in her studio in Hamburg, she creates inventive objects out of second-hand items. Her creations look like mechanical sculptures while at the same time being toys. But these are toys made to remind people that, in addition to routine and obligations, life should leave room for fantasy. "It is an extraordinary pleasure when you can turn on an object and it starts to move, as if you have woken it up from sleep," shares Birgit. She gives things a second life and people joy.

Interview

©Borstelmann

©Borstelmann

How did you get into this craft?: I have been fascinated by mechanisms and mechanical objects since I was a child. I studied goldsmithing, but my interest in mechanisms did not leave me, and eventually it took over completely. I changed my profession and started to create.
How would you describe what you do?: Essentially, I do collage or assemblage of parts. I play with the materials, seeing how they fit together, whether the mechanics fit into the body of the object, and how to make the object move. It is hard to describe it in one word. People say, "These are toys." If I am in a good mood, I say "They are toys for adults," but, of course, it is much more than that.
What do you like most about your craft?: I make objects out of everyday items. I like them to have a patina, to look old or used, and not to shine. It gives charm to the components I use. I like the fact that I can make them move. I can turn a handle and the object starts to move – that gives me a great sense of happiness.
Where does the inspiration come from?: It actually comes from the materials. I go to flea markets, second-hand shops, scrap yards and see what I can find. I do not have in mind a finished object, rather it is born in the process.

Birgit Borstelmann is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011