The idea of re-using pixel objects to build complex artwork may have the less techie minded amongst us running for the hills, but that notion has earned Steffen Sauerteig, Svend Smital and Kai Vermehr worldwide recognition. Together they formed eBoy, a graphic art collective whose designs have caught the eye of companies as large as Coca-Cola, MTV, Diesel and Adidas.

Recycling may be something that we all are encouraged to do in our everyday lives but eBoy have always been one step ahead with their computer database full of used objects. 'Think of it as a shelf with a lot of toys,' explain the trio. 'We constantly play with these toys but also create new ones or modify them if needed. This workflow evolved while playing.' When working together on the big busy pictures they are most famed for, eBoy tend to rip them apart into objects. These materials are easier for each member to handle and can then be stored for re-usage and modification.

'Inspiration comes from everywhere,' the group say when prompted about their love of digital art. 'We never liked the idea that a piece of work is final and cannot be printed and re-used many times, or the concept of limited editions. We really dislike static, final, limited stuff - this approach has been an underlying force just right there from the beginning, even if we were not too aware of it.'

You would be forgiven for thinking that their largely colourful pieces are made to counteract the grim reality of everyday life in Berlin, but they disagree: 'We don't perceive the reality as dull...There are so many exciting things happening on all levels. Finally it is becoming obvious that technology is nature, the net is connecting ideas; wonderful mutation, decay and evolution is happening everywhere. This world is a crazy madhouse and we look at it in awe.' The creative hub they work within has fuelled their ambition, with the eBoy website showing the wide range of mediums they have applied their trade to. Posters, animation, toys, badges, advertising...The (pixelated) sky is the limit!

The Lego-like eCities seen on their site are like video game fantasies. Outsize creatures and corporate logos take root in an unruly concrete jungle. 'No it's not a vision of the future,' they stress. 'It's just us having fun with it at the moment we work on it.' Full of optimism and with eyesight just about intact, Steffen, Svend and Kai count their most exciting project as their work with fashion label Paul Smith. 'We had the opportunity to dive into the world of fashion design and were invited to Tokyo, which was pretty stunning.' Also in the pipeline is a new series of toys, a result of their collaboration with Kidrobot. The modular figures are prepared for some serious play as they are sturdy enough to be thrown against walls! They can also take on new personas with their multi-changing parts like futuristic transformers. Despite appearing to be a company that has unlimited boundaries when it comes to its work, eBoy feel that their ultimate project would be 'A modular self evolving game, with lots of weird spin-offs and eBoy having the freedom of some unlimited steering...' And what about the immediate future for eBoy? 'Hopefully a lot of surprises!' they all agree. Judging by their past work, we're sure there will be. Go, eBoy, go!

http://hello.eboy.com



Words: Lauren Tones