Get smart curated videos delivered to your inbox.   SUBSCRIBE
The Kid Should See This

Brooklyn RobotWorks: Transformers Made of Trash

Watch more with these video collections:

Built in pieces on his small kitchen table, Peter Kokis of Brooklyn RobotWorks creates 64-77 kilogram (140-170 pound) exoskeletons, mechanical-looking suits of armor, that wow kids and adults all over New York City. This Atlantic video, One Man’s Trash directed by The Craig Brothers, refers to them as ‘eco-robots’ because the exoskeletons are made from repurposed household items.

Kitchen strainers, contact lens case holders, juicers, ice scrapers, lanterns, soap dispensers, vacuum cleaner and office chair parts… you name it; Kokis uses anything and everything that’s visually complex to create an impressive, machine-like illusion. Language note: Kokis also uses a casual minced oath around 2m7s. From his site:

I look at the shape of objects and see their potential to portray something. Virtually everything can be changed to suit my needs: re-shaped, cut-down, painted…altered in my ‘foundry’, to be seen as something else. I manipulate plastic from different – but typical -containers, and use ordinary household, hardware, gym, petshop & discount items: things you’ll find in your kitchen, bathroom, closets, fridge, and junk drawer. Stuff that’s readily available to us all.

Look closely at my parts and you’ll say, ‘hey, I have that at home!’ I create detailed, dazzling life-sized depictions of your favorite characters in fully-functional costume form…

Peter Kokis
Peter Kokis
File under: Reuse. Watch these videos: Artist Cyrus Kabiru makes eyeglasses from trash & e-waste and Dina Amin’s Tinker Friday Stop Motion Project.

This Webby award-winning video collection exists to help teachers, librarians, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity. TKSST features smarter, more meaningful content than what's usually served up by YouTube's algorithms, and amplifies the creators who make that content.

Curated, kid-friendly, independently-published. Support this mission by becoming a sustaining member today.

🌈 Watch these videos next...

Zaouli de Manfla: The Zaouli dance of the Ivory Coast, West Africa

Rion Nakaya

Wrecking Crew Orchestra and their glowing dance costumes

Rion Nakaya

Washed Ashore, giant animal sculptures made of found beach plastic

Rion Nakaya

Turning plastic bottles into football jerseys

Rion Nakaya

Turn human waste into drinking water – Janicki Omniprocessor

Rion Nakaya

Treasures in the Trash

Rion Nakaya

Thumb-dented aluminum can sculptures

Rion Nakaya

The Weather Artist: Chasing Storms With Sculpture

Rion Nakaya

The Secret Story of Toys: Action-figure character sculptors

Rion Nakaya