Leipzig, Germany-based artist Alexander Endrullat has acted traditionally Intaglio printing printing plates for discarded laptops. His ongoing series titled Off the grid emerged from a familiar but annoying scenario: owning an older device that can no longer be updated, rendering it practically useless. Endrullat’s frustration led to a moment of impulsiveness when he pushed his device through a printing press and happened to discover its signature technique.
“One of the most interesting aspects of the process is how clearly the progressive destruction of the devices becomes visible after each print,” explains the artist. With each pass, the device changes more and more, revealing details about its internal structures and their previous owners: worn keys that have been used the most, traces of sticker residue or remains of webcam covers. Wiping off the ink between prints also becomes more challenging throughout the process as glass screens and touchpads begin to crack.
The artist’s studio printing press is about a hundred years old and introduces a fascinating contrast between the longevity of tools – whether robust and durable or short-lived, perhaps even reminiscent of planned obsolescence. “The series reflects on materiality, consumption and the hidden architectures of
digital devices,” he says. “Although I also enjoy the sound a laptop makes when it goes through the press for the first time.”
Endrullat hopes to experiment with printing entire computer setups, complete with mice, keyboards, monitors and more, which would ultimately require a different type of press. Take a look into the artist’s process and discover more work about him Instagram.
