Carved from mahogany and ebony, Ben Jackel reinterprets one of the United States’ newly developed unmanned aerial vehicles. Named “Fury” and developed by Lockheed Martin, the drone is touted by its manufacturer as “a long-endurance, survivable Unmanned Aircrafts that brings strategic capabilities to the tactical warfighter.” Click here to see the actual drone in flight.

By rendering the vehicle in wood and coating its surface in graphite, Jackel not only emphasizes the drone’s streamline form and splendid curvatures, but brings awareness to the existence of these mechanisms that have forever changed the way wars are fought and waged worldwide.

For a glimpse into Jackel’s studio and the method used to carve these drones, here is a video we produced in 2012 titled “Creation of Drone” that provides insight into his meticulous process. 

Ben Jackel’s current exhibition “American Imperium” is on view at L.A. Louver through March 28, 2015.

IMAGE: (clockwise from top) Ben Jackel, Fury, 2014, mahogany, graphite and ebony, 7 x 61 x 32 ½ in. (17.8 x 154.9 x 82.6 cm); The Fury 1500 UAV. PhotoL Chandler/May; Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin.