SPACEKINS
By
Ryan Harris
Welcome to The Asteroid Belt...
Gallery 1
Gallery 2
What The Spacekins might look like - animated!
Over time, these walks with The Spacekins (and my dog) became litter picking missions, and by summer we were regularly filling several large carrier bags with refuse of all descriptions on each visit.
Some of this went for recycling, but among the unwanted and discarded, I began to see strange machines, flickers of half-formed beings and fragments of spacecraft, evolving in the collection that I had amassed.
On our subsequent visits, I began to think of the coastline as "The Asteroid Belt" - home of The Spacekin people, a transitory world of drifting space rocks, a world beleaguered by a regular tide of strange and mysterious debris.
Gradually, the population grew...
The Spacekins themselves are the main inhabitants - tiny, space-suited beings obsessed with exploration and discovery, but each with their own peculiar drives, loves, and failings.
"The Dirty Gherkins" (giant vessels that regularly pass through The Belt - dumping huge amounts of rubbish, before departing for who knows where.)
And "The Tea Time Tribe" - a sinister, confection-obsessed band of former Spacekins, now adrift on a rogue cluster of asteroids, periodically but unpredictability bringing sugar-coated terror to the Spacekin realm...
I really hope that you will enjoy viewing these, my illustrations, every bit as much as I have enjoyed creating them.
RH
A fair amount are found on our streets, in parks, green areas and other public places, as well as from household recycling and other odds and ends.
All of these bits and pieces are thoroughly cleaned, dried and then stored in large containers (pictured.)
Occasionally, a found object will inspire a design straight away, its physical appearance immediately reminiscent of a spacecraft, or a probe, or a two-headed robot, or some other weird cosmic machine - but this isn't always the case, and much of the time I will already have an idea for a finished piece in mind, and a lot of what I collect is based around it having "future potential..."
I usually sketch out initial ideas in pencil first, letting my imagination run with a concept and exploring as many design alternatives as I can imagine.
After this stage, it becomes a matter of trawling through the "bits box" for parts, parts that best lend themselves to the sketchbook version of the piece.
There is invariably a compromise between the materials to hand and the original design.
This part really makes the build more interesting for me, and the resulting piece becomes one that has evolved almost independently - beyond complete control - it can be quite surprising to see what turns a project will take, and it is one of my favourite parts of the process.
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Testimonials
So glad I came to your exhibition on Friday evening.
Your work is both clever & amusing.
Well done.
Eric HonzekIllustrator Ryan's work is an other-worldly experience. Surprisingly so, given it's made from the minute debris of ours, but reimagined beyond simplistic recycling.
Bright, colourful and full of whimsy, it will put a smile on the dourest of faces.
6MilPhilMiniaturist Seeing your work in the flesh so to speak was a delight and certainly put a smile on my face.
Thoughtful pieces, yet amusing.
The models are amazing!!!
Mike SamsonArtist and Owner at York Street Gallery, Ramsgate Splendid! I'm honoured to be supporting such a talented, creative and exciting project!
Bev SerafinowiczSpacekins Fan Excellent work and a fascinating project, we would love to help you get The Spacekins into space!
Harry SpringCo-founder at "Send My Stuff Into Space" It was an absolute pleasure to host you and your Spacekins, they are such a great bunch of guys, playful, whimsical and with a purpose.
I can't wait to see them out amongst the stars up to their usual frolics.
Phil OldfieldProprietor, The Front Room Gallery, Ramsgate More than genius. Multi-generational in appeal, the artwork rolls back boundaries, putting a magic spell on pollution to turn it into a loveable universe, characterful and quirky.
Ally DoddSpacekins Fan I really enjoyed Ryan's exhibition. Quirky, clever, humorous, imaginative and eco friendly what more could you ask for?
Mary Lou Robinson SharrockSpacekins Fan Very enjoyable! Thank you!
Adam A. WellerSpacekins Fan What an imagination!
Lesley GraySpacekins Fan Great show, Ryan!
Jo TurnerProprietor, Turner-Rowe Gallery, Ramsgate Always a pleasure to see your work!
Peter RackleyArtist