humans since 1982 transforms drones into sculptural artworks

the stockholm based design studio humans since 1982 presents their latest projects titled ‘collection of drones – triptych’ and ‘suspended drone’. both of these works exhibit drones as found objects to create sculptural artworks that preserve and display the items, similar to how an entomologist would collect and carefully study insects. in addition to these two projects, the duo also showcases a recent collaboration with IKEA for their art event 2021 and another new artwork called ‘surveillance light’, which repurposes CCTV cameras to make a large-scale light sculpture.

collection of drones – triptych, 2019, coated MDF, steel, drones, electronics, paper, 805 x 1025 x 110 mm (x3)

image © tim meier, courtesy of humans since 1982 (also main image)

for ‘collection of drones – triptych’, humans since 1982 have pinned small to medium-sized domestic drones on three white panels. the piece intends to make a comment on the prevalence of technology in our lives and how we are becoming under constant surveillance. by mounting the drones onto the wall, they are transformed into static objects, almost like a relic in a museum. by exhibiting them in this way, the designers imagine how future audiences will view this new technology.

image © tim meier, courtesy of humans since 1982

‘suspended drone’ sees a dismantled drone preserved in a tube of gel, in an almost clinical way. the work preserves the technology, inviting viewers to inspect and study the object like an exhibition in a natural history museum. by making the drone motionless, the installation intends to make us question their purpose and potential as agents of constant surveillance and artificial intelligence, or more optimistically as tools to aid disaster management and wildlife monitoring.