Jochem Esser is a visual artist who is interested in the anthropological aspects of crafted objects. In his work, he combines handcrafted materials with modern technology to create objects that serve a practical function but don’t have a real-life application.

His inspiration comes from video games where objects are placed for world-building and don’t serve a practical purpose. For Jochem, creating these objects by hand creates a form of hyper-reality where there is no clear border between the real and the fantastical. In this way, Esser aims to create objects that are in the domain of magical realism. Esser’s work navigates between the realms of applied and fine art. He draws inspiration from subjects like science fiction, applied game design and ancient artefacts.