Bootleg Objects

In the series Bootleg Objects, Markus Bader and Max Wolf comment on technology, transformation and question the concept of identity as a corollary to utility and function.

Series Sound include a cassette player incapable of playing cassettes yet reads DVDs; a radio that doesn't tune music but has a wireless internet connection and turntable that doesn't turn but plays MP3s.

ReBraun is a modification of Audio 1 Kompaktanlage, designed in 1962 by Dieter Rams. But here, two TFT-Displays take the place of the radio scales, a randomly positioned button, labelled "Zufall" (Randomness) stands for the freedom from mechanical constraints while the antenna does not receive any FM radio, but is used to wirelessly connect the system to the internet.

Re-Bo is a manually reworked Beocenter 1400 (designed for Bang&Olufsen in 1973 by Jacob Jensen). The archaic cassette slot houses a smart card reader, a DVD-drive is hidden behind a previously unused groove in the front panel, and a 16:9 TFT display has even joined the object. The slider control formerly used to control the radio tuning now becomes both a display and controller for a whole slew of functions.

In Re-SP, the Technics SP 1210 MKII is dismantled and replaced by a small PC and an RFiD reader. Instead of the needle is removed, a USB port copies music on the internal hard drive. Small souvenirs (a cut-out of the original record sleeve, an empty CD box) are tagged with ID stickers that when scanned, register and play the corresponding saved folder of MP3s. To skip to the next track, one simply gives the case a slap with the palm.

Seen at at D-DAY, modern-day design, Centre Pompidou, Paris, open till October 17.
Then on show at JUNG UND DEUTSCH, Hillside Terrace, Tokyo.