This interview with Astrum People is really great – if i do say so myself. Serge asked some great questions and I opened up a bit about why and how I make art.

The Pop Art Genre

AP: What genre are your robot sculptures?

Mike: I see the Slobots as Pop Art for the most part, with some inspiration from Mid-Century and Space Age Design as well as art from the art of the 1950s and 60s. I really admire people like Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Ed Ruscha, and Robert Indiana. That whole generation of artists broke open the idea of what can be art – Andy even said: “Art is what you can get away with.” I think they proved it when they used such bright colors and bold statements and then juxtaposed them with everyday ideals, objects, and brands. When I make a Slobot, I re-use a lot of stuff that might have ended up going into the garbage. I like the idea of creative re-use of especially plastic and plastic as we know it really got started in the 50s and 60s.

Check out the whole interview with Astrum People here: Mike Slobot: Unique and Familiar Robot Sculptures