A couple months ago, a missive from M. Heisler landed in my inbox. It was a heads up on a “snazzy new slobot sculpture” he’d created for a custom toy show in Florida. The bot turned out to be SlomunnyV3, a creature in search of life’s meaning amidst the backdrop of technological obscolescence. Many Slobots and toy shows later, the Slobot story, careful customization (emphasis on recycling) and signature style still strike a chord. Ontop of that, Mike is a really nice guy. Read the whole interview for 10 questions, more Slobots and a peak at the studio where it all goes down…after the jump.
What is your background?
MH: I have painted on and off most of my life, and I took art and design classes in high school and college. For the most part, though, the slobots are a self-taught exercise. In other parts of my life I have been a graphic designer, an audio engineer, a dj, and a lighting designer. I am sure that parts of all those things have added-up to the creation of the slobots.
Please tell the tale of how the first Slobot came about.
The first slobot was actually a pastel drawing for my wife. My wife has been my muse in all things slobot, and once I did that first drawing, I looked at it and thought, I can sculpt one of those. So I gathered up some stuff from around the house, and built him. He is made of household items and paper mache. Not many people have seen that one.
All of the Slobots have stories, and there is a recurring theme of “flaws” that cause the ‘bots to prefer dog-walking to destruction. Why did you choose to take your Slobots in a more “pacific” direction than many other toys on the market?
Largely, I think this one comes from having my wife as my muse. As a kid, I never really played shoot ‘em up games, and didn’t have any BB guns or anything like that. I think that speaks into how the slobots have developed so far. I wasn’t really a destructive kid either, so maybe that is subconsciously in there somewhere. Undoubtedly, even the slowest robot could be faster than a human, so why not hope for the best? Ultimately, though, I just think it would be a lot cooler to have a robot friend than to be fighting one, and the world needs a dose of hope in life. Life has plenty of things to fear, so, why not have a friend that encourages hope?
The Slobots have a “secret sauce” of sorts. You’ve likened their texture to the multiple coats of paint on an old bus. If you can’t reveal the proprietary formula, tell us something else about your customization process.
I have always painted with a little bit of random in the process, letting the process or the form “speak” in the creation. The “secret sauce” on the slobots grew out of that type of thing, and has inadvertently become part of their trademark look and feel. The whole idea with the slobots began with a concept of old robots looking for jobs and searching for meaning in life. At the core, the actual process is a layering of paints, glues, finishes, and mediums to get just the right look.
Gizmowatch called SlomunnyV3 “The Cutest DIY Mini Munny Ever.” Does it feel like a burden or responsibility to hold down that level of cuteness? I mean, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were once (supposedly) cute and now they’re creepy fur-wearing billionaires.
Let me first be clear, the opportunity to become a faux-fur wearing billionaire is quite appealing, and I would jump at the opportunity. Seriously, though, I take the praise I have received for the slobots thus far with a smile, and am flattered that someone found Slomunnyv3 cute… I really want people to be affected positively because of them, and to receive some hope from the slobot stories. Ironically, the SlomunnyV3 was reviewed on another site as a “Post Apocalyptic Cyborg Lemon”, so he apparently scared someone.
You’ve customized Munny, Dunny, Mad*l, Qee, Trexi, Noupa, Bart Simpson and Mighty Muggs. Did I miss anything? What’s your favorite platform toy to work with?
The only thing I can see that you missed is the 12” Tokyoplastic Geisha. There are some cool things brewing, but I am going to keep those under my hat for now… My favorites currently are the Munnys and the bigger Qees. Both of those shapes are really appealing, and they lend themselves well to the development of a slobot. In addition to the customs, I also make my original slobots from plastic bowls, bottles, cups, and such, so I guess in some ways they could be looked at as custom bowls and bottles.
Any particular figures you’d like to customize? You know, there’s a DIY Dookie-Poo contest going on. Is the world ready for Dookiebot or Slopoo?
I would love to do a dookie poo. I have to say that poo as a robot is a little strange, but, in the grand scope of things, the slobots are overcomers, so one that makes its way out of a dookie poo seems appropriate. I am interested in just about any customizing opportunity, but I would love to do more Mad*ls and also a Yoka.
Some of your recent customs and originals are getting electric, with headlamps, etc. What projects have you got in the pipeline? And where can people see your work next?
The lights get added on pieces once in awhile, the first Slomunny (Slomunny Seeker) was actually the first slobot to have lights as well. As with the process of the “secret sauce” finish, lights get added when I think the piece is “asking” for them. Sometimes I find a light source, and it inspires the shape of the slobot. The light that forms the eye in the sloqee7b (bottom photo) is the inspiration that caused the whole slobot. As for where the slobots can be seen next, I have several shows coming up, and I have been announcing them [sub to the slobot blog here] as details are confirmed. I know for sure that I am doing the Lift Detroit Summer Munny show, a Miao show with Subtext, and I just finished a new Slodunny that I sent to Nowhere Limited in Colorado. The new Slodunny (Slodunny SERVO2) is really cool, and his story includes an interest in ice cream…
What does your studio/work area look like? Do you have a room full of acrylic tubes and mini jet packs?
Ironically, I do have a room that is full of acrylic rods, mini jet packs, and bins full of raw parts, old toys, plastic bottles, etc. My work area is a little chaotic right now, as we recently moved to North Carolina, and I am still trying to put stuff away, while I continue to work. Here is a pic of a day when the work area was a little bit more organized…
Besides detritus for making robots, what else do you collect?
I pick up the odd vinyl toy and such, but I don’t really go in for waiting in line to get exclusives. I would probably collect more if I wasn’t creating my own, as most of the time I buy a piece of vinyl, I am thinking about making it into a slobot.. I have a small collection of dunnys, qees etc, and I collect some of Dalek’s art, Hot Wheels and Dub City lowrider VWs, and a few tin robots. I also dig the Unklbrand stuff, and Biskup’s toys too. I really love all types of toys, not just designer and urban vinyl, and would probably collect everything I could get my hands on, if I had the space. I am a big fan of Warhol, for his art of course, but also because I saw an Ovation TV special about him that revealed Andy had a collection of really cool cookie jars and shoes. He had so many cool cookie jars, that a collector purchased them after his death, and has them displayed in a specially built room. I think that is a really cool thing.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Very cool interview. I love that Bart Simpson custom.