Art & Design

It makes our heads hurt thinking about it, but the video above helps explain how Clock Clock works; it’s basically an array of analog clocks whose hands combine to show digital time.

Made with Lego Mindstorms NXT and hung from three pulleys, Nils Volker’s Drawing Robot is more artistic than technical: it tracks visitor’s eye movements to create dot paintings.

We’re a big fan of Matt W. Moore’s geometric art, but we’re even bigger fans now with his “Thus Far” lecture at OFFF: it shows his early days as a graffiti/mural artist up to his B/W series.

Turning a building into a light show is not a novel idea, but Projekt PIWO 3 is among the best; they do everything from Tetris to Michael Jackson in the one hour show above.

The lord of all things Mac gets a typographical makeover with this Steve Jobs portrait by Dylan Roscover; it’s based on Apple’s “Crazy Ones” ads and uses common Apple fonts.

Named after masters of splatter Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, Oscar G. Torres’ Jackoon robot actually uses a camera that lets it paint a predetermined image.

On display at the 2009 Maker Faire from 5/30-5/31, Charlie Bucket’s Fluid Sculpture is as mesmerizing as it is a bit grotesque; it’s a mixture of mineral oil, water and dye. Thanks, K!

First we saw Manhattan 400 years ago, and now it’s horizonless: this poster of Manhattan reminds us of Halo, but it’s actually a curved 3D projection that allows us to see over obstacles.

Celebrate 10 years of collaboration between LEGO and Star Wars: any order placed at LEGOshop.com on 5/3 and 5/4 will get a free, limited edition poster with 160 minifigures.

Thank god for kooky artists like Bill Durovchic; his beautiful Gear Box Sculptures have no discernible use, but are fun for not only burning calories but a nice-sized hole in your wallet.

You Fade To Light is an array of interactive OLEDs, effectively digitizing the shapes and movements of passersby; it was commissioned for Phillips and uses software by Chris O’Shea.

NSFW: Russian designer Ramm ND has an aptly suggestive name, as his racy beer can art is some of the strangest yet smartest we’ve seen; the pantyhose can is pure genius.

It’s only a concept, but Burak Kaynak and Cem Has’ T-shirt Sketchbook is pure genius: the handy shirt shape lets designers easily jot down ideas whenever inspiration strikes them.

This hand-printed silkscreen by illustrator Andy Smith puts a dark humor spin on these trouble times; titled The Face of Disaster, the 33″x23″ poster has a limited run of 20 pieces.

It’s not the most glamorous of materials, but H. Mathis’ Dirt From Every State project is a collection of geographically-shaped soil from the 50 states (plus DC and Puerto Rico).

Sure, it’s a bit rough around the edges, but Angus McLeod’s WWII: The Simple Version is a funny illustrated primer for anyone who needs to bone up on their history. Thanks, Brian!

I Heart Chaos’ Periodic Table of Video Game Characters is one that we could get lost in for a good half hour; they’ve managed to pair (by letter) a character with each real life element.

Known for his quirky steampunk art, we’re devouring all the details in Scott Campbell’s Home Slice exhibition; it’s composed of funky cutaways of rockets, whales and other objects.

Artist Chris Grine is working on an ambitious but very cool project: three new robots each week for an entire year. He’s on #13 but already has several winners, including Warm Tender Heart.