frank buchwald puts dimmable sun in machine light with MB&F

Recent machine light by frank buchwald with MB&F

Frank Buchwald interprets the mechanical sun by handcrafting a machine light with MB&F made of a dimmable LED ring encircling a spherical bulb. Named the ML15 Helios, the sculptural design is part of the brand’s gallery branch, M.A.D.Gallery, which stands for Mechanical Art Devices. It is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and as an homage, MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser taps artist Frank Buchwald, who was one of the first contributors to the gallery.

The latter brings over a reimagined version of his Machine Lights series, this time drawing the inspiration from the mechanical sun. The object stands on three legs, and the piece is built from stainless steel with brass elements. Every component is made and finished by hand in the artist’s workshop, where he also thoroughly places and runs the electrical wiring through flexible stainless steel tubes. At the center of the recent Frank Buchwald machine light sits a spherical globe bulb. Around this sphere, a dimmable LED ring forms a circular halo, creating a clear outline around the globe. It is here that the light source becomes the focus of the sculptural design.

all images courtesy of MB&F

Dimmable ring light interprets mechanical sun

In front of the central sphere, two blue diffuser rings are fixed within a bracket structure, and these rings partly frame the globe and change how the light spreads. The blue elements give a reading of the form, as they create a visual filter between the viewer and the light source. The result is an object that resembles a telescope used for space observatory. The head section of the ML15 Helios can move 45 degrees to the left and 45 degrees to the right, a movement that allows the user to direct the light and adjust the orientation of the object.

The base of Frank Buchwald’s Machine Light with the brand MB&F and its gallery keeps the piece stable while the upper section rotates. Screws, joints, and connections remain visible, and the three-legged base supports the vertical axis. The bracket also holds the sphere and rings in place. The ML15 Helios follows the artist’s long interest in machines. Within the context of M.A.D.Gallery, the ML15 Helios stands as a bridge between art and engineering, as the object combines structure, light, and movement. It reflects the gallery’s mission: to present mechanical devices as works of design and to create a space where watchmaking, art, and kinetic construction meet.

the piece is built from stainless steel with brass elements