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At first glance it looks like a scene played out thousands of times a day across the UK. A man stands at a cash machine about to make a cash withdrawal. However, if you zoom out it becomes clear that what you are actually seeing is a tiny figurine stood in front of a toy machine no bigger than a matchbox. Welcome to the miniature world of Slinkachu. The artist - a former design student - has been creating numerous similar scenes across London for the last 12 months as part of his ‘Little People – a tiny street art project’. Fused caught up with him to find out about his work.
Why did you start the project?
At first it was just something fun to show friends, but it kind of snowballed. People really responded to it in the right way.
Where did the idea come from?
I was thinking about how little we look around ourselves in day-to-day life. I grew up in the country and loved playing outside when I was a kid, digging things up and finding bugs. There isn’t much chance to do that in the city. And as an adult you lose that sense of wonder about what is around you. I wanted to introduce a bit of mystery and encourage people to look around themselves a bit more. And of course the notion of being small in a big city is quite emotive - everyone who lives in the city feels lost and lonely from time to time.
Where do you source the figures and props?
Most of the figures are made by a company called Preiser. They are made for train sets and architects models. I paint them - or remodel them if they need it. The props are from a variety of sources, but ebay comes in handy.
How do you come up with the ideas for the individual scenes?
I carry a notebook around that I jot down ideas in. Sometimes I create scenes for specific locations and other times I carry some people around with me until I find the right location.
How difficult is it to set scenes up in a busy city such as London?
Sometimes, if I am placing figures in crowded areas I attract a bit of attention - usually in the West End. But mostly I go out early in the morning or evenings or on Sundays when there aren't many people around.
Have you ever run into trouble with the police?
I have been stopped a few times, mainly by security people who don't want me to take pictures in certain areas. I was stopped by an undercover policeman in Kings Cross who thought I was sniffing glue - I guess I was crouched in a corner with superglue in my hand. I also had a few police bikes pull up when I was placing some little people in Euston with a French film crew in tow. We were a security threat apparently.
Which is your favourite scene so far?
My favourite is probably ‘The Feast’, a man being eaten by a fly. I also love how the cash machine scene turned out - it looked great set up and amazing as a picture. It really fools the eye.
What would be your dream Little People location?
Any location is interesting, depending on the ideas I can have for it. I am currently planning something larger that will have to be carried out in a park in London - that should be fun.
Once you set the scene up and photographed it do you leave the characters in place? How long do they generally tend to stay there?
The cash machine guy stayed up for a few months. He is gone now, but the machine is still there. I don't often check on the Little People once I place them so some could still be around. I had a little guy waiting for a lift in Canary Wharf who stayed up for a few weeks. A journalist recognised the location and found it and took some photos of his own.
How long do you intend to continue with the Little People scenes?
I will carry on as long as I still enjoy doing it. I have other things I want to try too and the little people project has a finite life I think. Either I will get bored or everyone else will.
What next?
I am working on a book, which should be out next year. I have a few exhibitions planned in the next six months and I will be in Norway for the Nuart festival in September, which should be fun. I also want to try some new street-based art soon and will probably set up a new website for that.
For more information visit http://little-people.blogspot.com/
Words: Simon Creasey
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