When was the last time a piece of street art (wheatpasting, stencils, stickers, graffiti, etc.) made an impression on you? I’m not saying anything about whether or not it’s a talented medium. Cities are basically one big canvas, everywhere you look there is someone’s creation vying for your attention. To burn your mark you not only have to rock a great idea (and talent, of course), you need to go big—be everywhere. Be seen. People need to walk down the street and know your work before they know who you are.
Not your typically street art project, London based artist/blogger Slinkachu meticulously places, and arranges, his tiny figures around city streets for everyone to see. Only, you’re really going to have to take the blinders off or you’ll step right over (or on) his miniature installations. They’re that small. The aim of the project, the actual placing of the little people on the street, is to encourage people to look around themselves more.
My older self is drawn to the social commentary about how living in a city full of people can make you feel like a munchkin among giants—isolated in your own small world. My younger self loves the idea of walking down the street and finding something great (my dream was finding a big bag of money on the ground while walking to school). Either way, Little People: A Tiny Street Art Project is two shades of brilliant. We threw Slinkachu a few questions, make the jump to read our interview
“I think people can often empathize with the plight of these little people lost or lonely in the big city.” – Slinkachu
What’s best thing you have found on the ground?
When I was younger I wanted to be an archeologist. I always dreamed of digging up treasure and dinosaur bones. The best I ever found though was some coins that my parents planted to surprise me. I recently found what I thought were some painting by artist Adam Neate, who leaves paintings on the streets to be found by passersby, but unfortunately they were fakes. So I am still looking for interesting things.
Were you ever left alone a lot as a child?
No, I had a pretty normal, happy childhood in the country. I have always enjoyed my own space though. I would be quite happy as a child going off and playing on my own, drawing or making things for hours on end.
What about now, would you call yourself an introvert?
I am certainly not an extrovert—unless I am drinking.
There seems to be some mystery about who you are, why hide your identity?
I don’t hide it as such; I just prefer not to promote myself too much. I am quite happy like that.
What’s the big picture here?
The main theme in many of the pictures is that of the city and how we can feel living in it. I think people can often empathize with the plight of these little people lost or lonely in the big city.
Who is your art for?
For anyone… It can be read in different ways. I like to imagine that occasionally someone stumbles across my stuff on the street and is completely thrown.
What do you fear most?
I think loneliness. I fear being old and lonely.
