Modified

Artwork Description

Michael Cooper transforms commonplace objects into fantastical contraptions with a remarkable blend of innovation, humor, and impeccable craftsmanship. In the California hot rod culture that pervaded Cooper’s youth, enthusiasts relied on such ingenuity to modify cars for racing. This influence is evident in Cooper’s works, which range from abstract sculptures, many with moving parts, to fully operational vehicles such as this one. Modified, a “high speed Adirondack chair,” can be driven up to an astonishing sixty miles per hour. Not content to stop there, Cooper also incorporated pneumatics, or compressed air, to lower the seat six inches for riding or raise it six inches for “cocktail position.”