Neil Hardy

Until 1992, I had been an Architect for thirteen years, working in practices in London, Cambridge and Edinburgh. During this period, I became more interested in mechanical models and how they worked. As a child, the works and drawings of Heath Robinson and Emmett had always intrigued me and I began to make simple models based on their particular style and humour.

In November 1992, I decided to pursue automata making full-time and started in earnest designing and creating new pieces. I became a member of the British Toymakers Guild in 1993.

In 2005 I took part in the World Karakuri competition in Japan. Karakuri is the Japanese equivalent to automata. Out of 600 entries, 35 were invited to Japan for the final competition and I was one of a handful selected from Europe. The final event was televised on Japanese TV and I was awarded a special jury prize for 'An outstanding work that showed original conceptualisation and creativity'. The work is now in a museum in Germany. Later that year I took up a residency in Australia at the Noosa gallery in Queensland. Automata is fairly unknown there and it was hoped through teaching and producing a few pieces for the gallery that a new interest would be born. Since then I have been asked to make pieces for a new museum in Korea and Italy and also asked by the Japan organisers of the Karakuri to provide 2 large works for a new museum they are creating for automata.

I was also proud to receive the Malsbury Memorial Cup for Automata in 1994, and the Longleat Cup for most popular work at the Fair voted for by the children in 1996 - both presented to me by the British Toymakers Guild.

Automata is one of the few crafts that has not originated from a practical need, like pottery or glass. Its purpose has always been to fascinate, intrigue and, more recently, give a sense of fun and whimsy. I have tried to make pieces that basically make you feel happy to own, that do not take themselves too seriously and do not require great aesthetic taste to appreciate. They should have no practical value apart from making you smile. They are like a film cartoon, something that takes skill and considerable time to make but with the sole purpose of amusing you.

I like the idea that something that often takes weeks to design and make for the first time is ultimately something so silly and pointless. With this in mind I like to show all the intricacies of the mechanics, the way in which it is put together and that there are no short cuts using motors, electronics or specialised materials. You turn a handle and things happen. You can see how each movement is created individually but the end result should be slightly magical, unexpected and whimsical.

Prices range from: £42 - £117

Tortoises

Rover

View all wood by Neil Hardy

cambridge contemporary crafts

cambridge contemporary art

Newsletter

Own Art Loan Scheme