Leipzig, Germany-based artist Alexander Endrullat has traded traditional Intaglio printing plates for discarded laptops. His ongoing series titled Off the Grid emerged from a familiar yet annoying scenario: owning an older device that can no longer be updated, rendering it practically unusable. Endrullat’s frustration led him to a moment of impulsivity as he pushed his device through a printing press, coincidentally discovering the distinctive technique.
“One of the most interesting aspects of the process is how clearly the progressive destruction of the devices becomes visible after each print,” the artist explains. With each pass through the device becomes increasingly altered, revealing details about its internal structures and their previous owners—worn keys that must have been used the most, traces of sticker residue, or remnants of webcam covers. Wiping off ink in between prints also becomes more challenging throughout the process, as glass screens and touchpads begin to crack.
The artist’s studio printing press is just about one hundred years old, introducing a fascinating contrast between the longevity of tools—both robust and enduring or short-lived, perhaps even reminiscent of planned obsolescence. “The series reflects on materiality, consumption, and the hidden architectures of
digital devices,” he says. “Although I might also simply enjoy the sound a laptop makes the first time it runs through the press.”
Endrullat hopes to experiment with printing entire computer setups, complete with mice, keyboards, monitors, and more, which would eventually call for a different type of press. Take a peek at the artist’s process and find more work on his Instagram.
