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NEW WEBSITE: www.marcuscrocker.com

--------For commissions please Email: cc_art@live.co.uk --------

June 2013 London Street Sculpture Series for the British Red Cross

Recent Press:

• ITV News: http://www.itv.com/news/london/story/2013-06-17/miniatures-stolen-from-our-streets
• Time Out: http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2013/06/19/red-cross-refugee-week-attracts-some-tiny-famous-faces/
• The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/be-careful-not-to-tread-on-little-lucian-freud-8657685.html
• BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22876964
• The Metro: http://metro.co.uk/2013/06/16/mind-you-dont-step-on-freddie-refugee-week-celebrated-with-miniature-street-art-3843789/
• Creative Review: http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2013/june/refugee-week/
• British Red Cross: http://blogs.redcross.org.uk/uk/2013/06/street-art-a-closer-look-at-marcus-crockers-miniature-refugees/
• The Londonist: http://londonist.com/2013/06/marcuscrocker.php
• Urban Times: http://urbantimes.co/magazine/2013/06/5-mighty-but-miniature-street-art-projects/ 
• GetSurrey: http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2135609_refugee_mini_models_go_on_display_in_london
• BBC World Service Radio: https://soundcloud.com/bbc-world-service/national-refugee-weeks-little
• BBC World Service TV
• BBC London Radio

This project was planned in collaboration with the British Red Cross for Refugee week, with the aim of highlighting the positive contributions refugees have made to British history and culture. We have focused on various iconic figures, each with their own refugee origins: 

~ Lucian Freud, Freddie Mercury, Lord Richard Rogers and Sir John Houblon~

The following images for this project were taken either by myself or British Red Cross Photographer Matthew Percival and are acknowledged respectively.  For comments or general questions please feel free to email me at cc_art@live.co.uk  

Sculpture recreating the scene of the artist Lucian Freud painting his famous portrait of Sue Tilley- known as 'Benefits Supervisor Sleeping' (1995). 

Photograph by Matthew Percival.

Photograph by Matthew Percival

Meeting Sue Tilley- Freud's 'Benefits Supervisor'

Sculpture of the late Freddie Mercury- the iconic lead singer of 'Queen', who fled the Zanzibar revolution with his family in 1964
Photograph taken by myself

Sculpture outside the Dominion Theatre, London.
Photograph taken by myself

Sculpture depicting my artistic impression of Lord Richard Rogers at work. Rogers is the architect behind the millennium dome/o2 arena in Greenwich, London. 
Photograph by myself 

Photograph by Matthew Percival

Sculpture of Sir John Houblon- the first governor of the Bank of England. Houblon was the grandson of a Huguenot refugee.
Photograph by Matthew Percival

Photograph by Matthew Percival

Sculpture depicting Syrian Refugees and a red cross worker- intended to highlight the support given by the red cross to those facing destitution and crisis.
Photograph by Matthew Percival

 vv Below vv 

Street Sculptures and communicating a story/message: The street sculptures and concept Ads I created on this blog (most recent first) came about as I wanted to try and develop an original way of combining street art with portraying a thought-provoking message. A key aspect of the majority of these sculptures focuses on isolated individuals who have fallen through the cracks of society but who nonetheless show a resilience and human spirit in the face of adversity. Therefore, the concept Ads, slogans and messages I have created are in keeping with this and are aimed at highlighting certain societal issues such as Homelessness, Substance Abuse, Health and Lifestyle Choices.

Street Sculpture Project Part VI- 'Winter Warmer'

The sixth part in the series- 'Winter Warmer' shows the resilience of the human spirit against a harsh urban environment as two homeless friends gather around an outdoor fire in Winter- their eyes and weathered faces glinting from the flames. The result is aimed at highlighting some of the struggles faced by the homeless, particularly in Winter. I wanted to do something a bit different to my previous sculptures so decided to include a real fire when shooting the photographs, which I feel creates a more life-like, dynamic viewing experience.The aim of the concept Ad is to create an eye-catching and interesting way of looking at a problem within society, whilst offering a way for people to quickly and easily make their own donations to the homeless charity.

Concept idea for 'Shelter' Homeless Charity

Photoshoot in Waterloo.

Street Sculpture Project Part V- 'End of The Road'

The fifth part in the series- 'End of the Road' is intended as a stomach-churning portrait of alcoholism. The words in my concept Ad for the 'Alcoholics Anonymous' support group try to reflect the placement of the sculpture on the street in their content whilst offering a lifeline for those in need.

Concept Ad idea for 'Alcoholics Anonymous' support group

Street Sculpture Project Part IV- 'A Blunt Message'

The fourth sculpture in the series, 'A Blunt Message' attempts to use the shock factor that has often been effective in Communications against the dangers of substance abuse. The appearance and placement of this sculpture tries to highlight the dire situation that heroin addicts can end up in: The drug often becomes the main focus of their lives, with addicts regularly ending up living on the streets or forced into the sex trade to pay for the habit. These aspects are coupled with the risks of overdose or contraction/transmission of blood-borne diseases like HIV or Hepatitis from unsanitary conditions and/or sharing needles.

Concept Ad idea for 'Talk to Frank' Drugs support. (Unfortunately FRANK made me take down their branding on the original concept Ad so I'm restricted in terms of what I can do on this one but the basic idea is still there)

STREET SCULPTURE PROJECT PART III- 'The Temptation of Anthony'

The third piece in my range of miniature London street sculptures. 'The temptation of Anthony' aims to show a portrayal of the relentless gluttony of a character consumed by his habitual fast food lifestyle as he lounges on a worn-out sofa, half naked and covered in chicken fat. Nonetheless he sits defiantly on his throne to await his fate.

When it comes to Health Communications about questionable lifestyle choices, more shocking images are often more effective. I created the concept NHS message with this in mind.

NHS concept ad idea

STREET SCULPTURE PROJECT PART II- 'The Big Smoke'

'The Big Smoke'- The second piece in my range of miniature London street sculptures. In a similar vein to part III ('The Temptation of Anthony'), this sculpture attempts to highlight the lifestyle choices some people make and how it can both affect oneself and vicariously affect others. In this case the combination of pregnancy and smoking- and the way in which a tobacco addiction becomes a much greater problem when a baby is on the way was the inspiration behind the sculpture (although I tried to retain an element of humour with the use of a Vicky Pollard-esque character).

Concept NHS ad idea

STREET SCULPTURE PROJECT PART I

My first in a series of miniature clay street sculptures I have made and placed around central London. The First two photographs were done as a concept for Etch Hype clothing label (www.etchhype.com), but the words being pasted in the message on the wall are ideally interchangeable in different versions of this image.

The colour of these sculptures has been kept to a minimum (black and white) as I wanted their real impact to come from other factors such as their surroundings- (where they have been placed and what they are looking at/interacting with).

Malaysia + My Assorted Art Work

Young Orangutan in Borneo, Malaysia

Pencil drawing of house in Kuala Lumpur

                                                             Orphaned Orangutan and carer

Pregnant cat works the camera

Sunrise at summit of Mt.Kinabalu, Borneo.

Orangutan at Sanctuary, Borneo.




A few of my art pieces of 'warped buildings'- All Acrylic on canvas: