Little People
Text JF. Pierets Artwork Slinkachu
UK based artist Slinkachu is abandoning little people on the streets since 2006. Come again? “My ‘Little People Project’ started in 2006. It involves the remodelling and painting of miniature model train set characters, which I then place and leave on the street.
It is both a street art installation project and a photography project. The street-based side of my work plays with the notion of surprise and I aim to encourage city-dwellers to be more aware of their surroundings. The scenes I set up, more
evident through the photography, and the titles I give these scenes aim to reflect the loneliness and melancholy of living in a big city, almost being lost and overwhelmed. But underneath this, there is always humour. I want people to be able to empathise with the tiny people in my works.”
Where do you get your ‘little people’?
Many of the little people live under my bed where I force them in to hard labour cleaning crumbs from my floor. Others are made by German company Preiser and can be bought in model shops and on the net. Google is your friend.
Do your ‘little people’ come ready made?
To an extent. Most are unpainted. I often remodel the characters, adding new features such as hoods with modelling clay, or changing arm and leg positions. I paint the characters and, if needed, find props. Some undergo a lot of modification, such as the super hero characters from my Whatever Happened to the Men of Tomorrow? series.
‘I also spend a lot of time sitting in coffee shops people-watching, reading the news and doodling in a sketchbook.’
Where do you get your props?
Many different sources such as model shops, online model railway sites and often ebay. I also use a lot of found materials, such as litter and insects.
Are you a professional photographer?
I didn’t train professionally as a photographer – I am mainly self-taught.
What camera do you use?
I use a Canon 5D mk2. When I first started I just used a simple point-and-click digital camera and then later a Canon 400D.
Have you done/would you do installations in other cities or countries?
So far I have done installations in London, Manchester, Stavanger (Norway), Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Barcelona, Athens, Marrakech and Grottaglie in Italy.
Where do you get your ideas?
Like most people, ideas come from my head through a process called ‘thinking’. I also spend a lot of time sitting in coffee shops people-watching, reading the news and doodling in a sketchbook.
Where can I purchase your prints?
Check out my website to see galleries that stock my work. If you contact them they will be able to help you further.
Can I commission you for my ad campaign / album cover / decorative tea set?
I usually avoid allowing my work to be used for commercial means, but would be open to commissions if the brief / end product / event is good (it would have to be a damn good tea set).
Can I collaborate with you on some work?
Possibly – and I always love seeing new work so just drop me a line.
Do you have a mailing list?
If you email me at slinkachu@yahoo.co.uk I will add you to my mailing list and keep you updated with future shows, releases and happenings.
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