MR. HERMAN
2018
A Mechanical Wooden Toy
by Ting-Yu Lee
by Ting-Yu Lee
Conceived during a period of stagnation and emotional downturn, this work takes the form of a mechanical wooden toy inspired by traditional automata. Its cyclical motion—always returning to its beginning in order to be played again—becomes a metaphor for inertia, where repetition displaces progress.
The piece explores the peculiar resonance of pessimistic objects, which can provide unexpected solace in contrast to the insistence on optimism. When a metal ball is placed into the figure’s hand, the hotel attendant Mr. Herman appears, initiating a narrative that unfolds only to circle back upon itself.
Through this modest yet relentless mechanism, the work stages both futility and quiet release, echoing the absurd poetry of automata and the muted rhythms of life’s low tide.
The piece explores the peculiar resonance of pessimistic objects, which can provide unexpected solace in contrast to the insistence on optimism. When a metal ball is placed into the figure’s hand, the hotel attendant Mr. Herman appears, initiating a narrative that unfolds only to circle back upon itself.
Through this modest yet relentless mechanism, the work stages both futility and quiet release, echoing the absurd poetry of automata and the muted rhythms of life’s low tide.
Side View of Mr.Herman
Arrangement of core components during assembly.
This work integrates a series of mechanical elements, each contributing to the unfolding of Mr. Herman’s narrative. A trigger hand functions as the activation point: placing an iron ball in the palm initiates the sequence and summons Mr. Herman. His movable face, mounted on a sliding mechanism, shifts forward and backward, creating a subtle sense of animation. A deer head rotates when the lower shelf door is opened, revealing the body concealed within. Finally, a clock mechanism advances in measured steps each time Mr. Herman’s vest is opened, introducing a layered rhythm of movement.
Switch fitting integrated into Mr.Herman’s hand.
Wood Carving of Mr.Herman
These drawings capture the early development of the work, inspired by a fascination with old mechanical wooden toys. They outline the imagined figure of a slightly eerie hotel receptionist, Mr. Herman, alongside explorations of different structural possibilities for the moving components that would later animate the piece.