Yesterday's post reminded me of Japanese-American sculptor Fumio Yoshimura and his wooden typewriters.
This sculpture from 1972 is called "Alger Hiss' Woodstock Typewriter." The depressed keys reflect some damage that has occurred since its creation.
This sculpture from 1973 represents a Corona No. 3 folding typewriter.
I'd be curious to know what readers think of these objects. My own view: they're not great works of art, but they do create an interesting effect in which the material of a thing is incompatible with its purpose, and form as shape no longer fits form as function. This isn't a new idea, but goes back at least to Meret Oppenheim's fur-lined teacup. Typewriters are meant to be useful things, but when made unusable and put on display, they turn into artworks. That's an idea that in its simplest form we owe to Marcel Duchamp. As for the woodworking skill on display here, it's simply amazing! And no doubt, Yoshimura learned a lot about these typewriters in the process of creating these pieces.