Cardboard is an underrated medium. We think of it as the delivery device for other, more important, objects, but cardboard has its own charms. Frank Gehry loved it so much, he used it to make a line of furniture. Bartek Elsner uses it to turn everyday objects into art. No cardboard was harmed in the making of these weapons. Some of Elsner’s pieces are installed in public place, like an actual-size fireplace in Berlin, with the intention of forcing the phone-addled commuter to take a second look at what’s on the street in front of them. Look, it’s the internet! Wouldn’t have guessed it was made out of cardboard. Part of the appeal of these elaborate replicas is their ephemerality. One rainy night and the fireplace would be a cold, lifeless pile. To see more of Bartek Elsner’s cardboard creations, or to get in touch with him, visit his website at the link below the pictures. ( By Martin Refsale )
