michael johansson’s injection molded assembly sets

assorted garden assembly, 2010
spade, rake, scythe, welded metal frame, spray paint
all images courtesy of michael johansson

swedish contemporary artist michael johansson turns everyday items into punch-out part assembly kits. the series of full-scale objects are fastened together by a welded tubular frame, then spray painted a single, solid color. johansson breaks down various objects and then reassembles them in 1:1 scale, square and rectangular structures. the collection features the skeleton of a hairdryer, a lawnmower, and even bed, that can be built into a bunk, all of which can be constructed from the system of separated parts. referencing the injection-molded toys that were present in many of our childhoods, johansson’s intrigue in the irregularities of daily life present exaggerated forms of regularity.

some assembly required, crescent scale 1:1, 2007
crescent parts, welded metal frame, spray paint
installation view: some assembly required, mors mossa, goteborg

engine bought separately, krups III, 2008

‘manual lawn mower’, 2011
manual lawn mower, welded metal frame, spray paint

engine bought separately, volta, 2007
vacuum cleaner, welded metal frame, spray paint
installation view: engine bought separately, galleri s:t gertrud, malmo

‘engine bought separately’, hugin III, 2008
hair dryer, welded metal frame, spray paint
installation view: strings attached, nordin gallery, stockholm

‘bed frame included’, 2009
folding bed, welded metal frame, spray paint.
installation view: frameworks, ostfold kunstnersenter, fredrikstad

‘bunk bed’, 2013
bunk bed, welded metal frame, spray paint
installation view: familiar abstractions, vigeland-museet, oslo