After he graduated from the Art Academy, Chris Millar (Earlier) worked in a toy store for seven years. “De Winkel, now in destination, was called Livingstone and Cavell Extraordinary Toys in Calgary, Alberta, Canada,” he tells Colossal. The store wore classics such as tin wind-ups, electric trains, dolls, miniature soldiers and teddy bears.
The newest extravagant detailed work by Millar was in the making and inspiration from the joys of toy stores and flea markets for a year and a half. He absorbs resin, acrylic paint, brass, steel, aluminum, electronics and wood in extensive kinetic glasses. Each part of is completely re -made with the exception of a few gears.
“Muwful Miscellanea” canalize an imaginary, fantastic curio store run by two brothers named Wade and Snyder. “Their portraits can be seen in a few parts of the image,” says Millar. “Wade is an expert in medieval musical instruments and roasted chicken, and Snyder in Antiquarian Circus Parapernalia.”
The piece follows in the footsteps of a work entitled “Eclipse at Arc Valley” that has a timepiece mechanism, but this new sculpture continues on the design with a more complex mechanism and a base that emits sound from a music box, two gongs, and six Clocks.
Millar expresses a preference for mother-and-pop stores and quirky destinations that have found it increasingly difficult to continue working in our era of online global trade. The inspiration for the image ‘is a contrary to the homogeneity that our internet -based culture gives us,’ he says.
The artist is represented by TrepanierbaerAnd you can wander more miniature imaginary worlds on the artist website.
