Jul 15, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: Bringing Ceramic Sculptures to Life by Smashing Them to Pieces

Photo: Martin Klimas
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In his photo series started in 2003, Martin Klimas makes ceramic statuettes come to life as they shatter on the ground.
Photo: Martin Klimas
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The camera is triggered by the sound made the moment the figurines hit the ground.

Photo: Martin Klimas
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The German photographer acquired the figures from an Asian supermarket at first, but then started ordering them online and even received donations.
Photo: Martin Klimas
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The destroyed figures seem to come to life with a new kinetic energy as they break apart.

Photo: Martin Klimas
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The shots must be precisely timed so that they capture the objects at the exact moment when they're clearly falling apart, but still retain enough of their original form.
Photo: Martin Klimas
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Klimas estimates he's gone through hundreds of figures in the course of making the series.

Photo: Martin Klimas
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He drops the figures from four meters up at his studio. He used to do this in his home.
Photo: Martin Klimas
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Sound is a key factor in this series, as well as several others that Klimas has made. Part of what inspires his work is the idea of rendering sound visible.

Photo: Martin Klimas
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“For me an important moment is when the object becomes transparent,” Klimas says. “When you see only splatters and parts but the original object is still visible. You get the feeling you can see inside the things. Also in the instant of its destruction, the boring porcelain figurine reaches its absolute peak of vitality.”
Photo: Martin Klimas
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The series began in 2002 with everyday objects like coffee cans and wine bottles. Later, Klimas started photographing exploding vases and other fragile objects.

Photo: Martin Klimas
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Although kits are available to set off cameras with microphones, Klimas uses a trigger system built for him by his brother in 2003.
Photo: Martin Klimas
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The images reward close inspection, revealing a chaotic swirl of atomized ceramics around the areas where the breaks are occurring.

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