Ryan Buyssens was born and raised near Detroit, MI; an environment that imparted a rich, lifelong influence from the automotive industry’s mechanized culture. An artist in the broadest sense of the word, he expresses his ideas through countless media. Preferring to explore the “what if” in the evolution of technology, he seeks out a departure from the logical path of invention and uses it as a branch that sprouts new possibilities. His work becomes a comment on logic and progress.

Ryan set out to synthesize his passion for designing mechanisms with his interest in the kinematics of a bird’s wings. The result of which is “resistance.” Crafted from 3D printed, CNC machined and laser-cut parts; it is time-based, interactive, mechatronic sculpture that emulates the articulated flapping of bird’s wings. Several sets of these mechanical birds are mounted to a wall and, through various intensities of flapping, respond to the viewer’s movements within the space. The objects simultaneously invite and intimidate with their graceful, fluid motion contrasted by the direct reactivity of their activation.