Roy’s people
Roy’s People gets inspired by everyday life and turns single moments into a miniature reality. He transformed his personal hobby into a full time activity, and from 2012, he started photographing his creations all around London. Take a deeper look at these tiny little guys and let yourself be surprised!
From a personal hobby to a full time job, your miniatures took over your life. What does inspire your creations?
It's hard to pinpoint where inspiration comes from exactly, as it comes in many different ways and often completely randomly. Travel - I would say - opens my eyes more than anything. Whenever I travel, I find my mind is somewhat freed from work which allows me to take in what is going on around me, seeing how people go about their lives and being able to turn those experiences into a miniature reality. At the same time, working and creating allows my artwork to evolve, meaning new ideas come to me.
Your tiny little guys around London let people who look at them to get focused on the details. What’s the importance of details for you?
I always like the surprise that it gives people when they see them. It's not really about the finer details, rather the message and dialogue going on in the scene, being easy enough for someone to understand.
“Art is a guaranty of sanity”, said Louise Bourgeois. What is the impact of art in your life?
It is a complete lifestyle. Art is involved in every aspect of my life, from collecting, to making, right down to the books I read my son about Jean Michel Basquiat.
The past year has changed the way we feel. Did this period inspire any of your latest artworks?
Yes. The past year have in fact triggered my love for making art again. Since 2017, I have also established an art fair in London: “Roy's Art Fair” of which had consumed my time up until the pandemic hit the UK. Since then, all the events have been cancelled, so I had complete focus on art again which has been incredible. I first started with a lockdown series created in spring 2020, consisting of a series of images created around my home.
In August there will be the 6th edition of the Roy’s Art Fair in London. Do you feel like people are more into arts now than they were before the Pandemic?
Absolutely. The demand has been huge this past year. I believe whilst people have been exposed to buying art online more, they have also been encouraged to create art for themselves more than ever, as a way of getting through these times. Grayson Perry's Art Club a fantastic example.
How do you see the next future of your practice?
I am currently exploring the installation side of my works more, which is great because it isn't weather dependent, unlike the photography, and the weather has been rubbish so far this year.
““I always like the surprise that it gives people when they see them. It’s rather the message and dialogue going on in the scene, being easy enough for someone to understand.””
From the creation of these miniature scenes to the pictures around London, Roy’s People is now progressing his work into installations - generally wall hanging artworks that include the original figures. He’ve found people really enjoy to be able to own the figures, so he decided to incorporate them into artworks for people to buy. And you, would you buy a miniature world where to get lost?
interview ANNA FEDERICO
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