We welcome in United Kingdom artist Slinkachu who joins with one of his signature installation works Leisure Facilities For Youths to coincide with this year’s massive POW! WOW! x 1xRUN Print Suite! Slinkachu’s pint size installations blend street art, graffiti, pop culture, sculpture and photography for a uniquely detailed edition to coincide with the world’s premiere mural festival. Read on as Slinkachu gives us some background on his debut edition with us and much more…
1xRUN: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Slinkachu: The print is presented 1:1 scale – so the figures you see are exactly the size they are in real life (around 1.5cm high).
1x: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Slinkachu: A lot of my work explores how people live in urban areas and the issues they face. One aspect of that is the regular person’s access to amenities when local authority budgets are tight; bad local schools, no youth clubs, children’s play parks in disrepair (or non-existent). I shot a similar installation in the past, but wanted to improve on it. The image of children playing amongst litter is often in my head. And indeed in many parts of the world this is unfortunately what children actually do.
1x: What materials were used to create this piece?
Slinkachu: I use train set figures that I customise to create the miniature figures in men work. And this one also used, of course, the peel of a satsuma. I like incorporating items that can really be found on the street and having the figures interact with those items.
1x: When was the piece originally created?
Slinkachu: Much of the installations that I create and shoot are never made in to prints. This installation was shot a couple of years ago and I’ve had it in my back pocket waiting for a good time to release it.
1x: Tell us a little bit about your process and how the idea and execution came about?
Slinkachu: I modify train set figures by cutting them up and reposing them, sometimes adding details with modelling clay, and then painting them. When I go to place the figures on the street I spend a long time walking around a city looking for the right location – in this case I found some great dumpsters that I thought the ‘skatepark’ would work well with. Almost like it had been built under a freeway.
1x: How long did this piece take from start to finish?
Slinkachu: The figures take a few hours to make and then finding locations can take a couple of hours too. I usually take an hour to set up and shoot each installation. I then leave the figures on the street.
1x: Describe this piece with one gut reactionary word.
Slinkachu: aPEELing (apologies, I’ll get my coat).
1x: What are your expectation this year for POW!WOW! Hawaii?
Slinkachu: I really don’t know what to expect! I am excited to see so many artists working on their pieces. My work is very different to many of the other artists in that it is so small and almost designed not to be noticed, so I think it will be interesting to see how that works amongst so many large murals.
1x: Without giving away too much, what are your plans for your mural out in Honolulu?
Slinkachu: I am bringing a lot of small installations with me but I am not sure how many I will complete yet – a lot depends on finding the right locations. It will be exciting to explore the city.
1x: Any of the participating artists on this year’s roster that you are excited to see painting?
Slinkachu: I’m looking forward to seeing Defer paint. Also Pantone and Edwin Ushiro. And seeing artists that are new to me too.
1x: Where else can people find you?
Slinkachu: Website – Instagram@slinkachu_official – Facebook – Andipa Gallery
– 1xRUN