Harry Arling

Harry Arling is an artist from the city of Groningen. When he was younger, he and his brother were keen model builders. Later, he began making his own science-fiction-style machines out of his old model kits. This practice grew into the Kosmotroniks of today. Harry is his own biggest fan: “I love my Kosmotroniks,” he says.

The two Kosmotroniks that will be on display at the Children’s Biennale are among his showpieces. They will be placed on pedestals. The gallery walls will be completely covered in enlarged photographs of Kosmotroniks, giving visitors the feeling of being inside and among them. It will all be one colourful whole. According to Harry, he could have exhibited all his Kosmotroniks – because every one is marvellous – but he has selected these because they do a good job of showing what Kosmotroniks are: clumsy, awkward, yet highly adventurous machines. In the artist’s world, the drivers have built the Kosmotroniks they’re riding on, with so much heart and soul that the machines have come alive. Harry hopes the works will make people happy and show them something they’ve never seen anywhere else.