Jakob Grosse-Ophoff

Jakob Grosse-Ophoff works in the fields of painting, illustration, and kinetic sculpture. After completing a degree in mechanical engineering in 2019, he shifted his focus entirely to artistic practice. His technical background has since become a distinctive element in his work – particularly in his kinetic sculptures, which are currently at the core of his practice.

In these moving objects, Grosse-Ophoff combines mechanical expertise with a subtle observation of everyday human gestures. Arms, heads, or torso modules move via cranks, motors, or belts – not as mere technical gimmicks, but as a serious exploration of the relationship between body, movement, and mechanics. The results are sometimes humorous, sometimes unsettling, but always marked by a keen sense for materiality, rhythm, and absurdity.

Grosse-Ophoff’s work exists at the intersection of art, technology, and everyday observation. It speaks of the ambivalence between human and machine, of repetition, programming, and the desire to reflect the animate within the inanimate.