The tiny world of urban artist Slinkachu
![One of Slinkachu's pieces is of two naughty boys preparing to throw Lego onto a road]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/7b/106ad0ae89c0c959215236db2eea/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "One of Slinkachu's pieces is of two naughty boys preparing to throw Lego onto a road (Rex Features)")
![A small piece from Slinkachu of a man with an umbrella in a puddle]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/43/9e28f8527f6c9d729f5f51512f973d/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A small piece from Slinkachu of a man with an umbrella in a puddle (Rex Features)")
![A man rowing across a puddle]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/2b/696b7b26cc8017b4476fa4b08ef740/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A man rowing across a puddle (Rex Features)")
![A miniature man trying to hail a taxi]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/33/a9cc32493c866ddca5985d85f0379e/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A miniature man trying to hail a taxi (Rex Features)")
![Slinkachu creates, and then abandons, tiny installations around London using reworked railway model figures that he then records photographically]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/af/cb67fe82e3327a0bad96d6af74cb/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Slinkachu creates, and then abandons, tiny installations around London using reworked railway model figures that he then records photographically (Rex Features)")
![A miniature man with a party popper strapped to his back]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/aa/c3253f814c240f1ec7072db4b7f21/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "A miniature man with a party popper strapped to his back (Rex Features)")
![Another Slinkachu artwork in London]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/8e/e850a9e1be9e0312494165daacdb5/_h353_w628_m6_ofalse_lfalse.jpg"}} "Another Slinkachu artwork in London (Rex Features)")
Concrete ocean
Watch out the streets are paved with tiny works of art that you could easily crush with your foot and not even realise it. See gallery
Watch out the streets are paved with tiny works of art that you could easily crush with your foot and not even realise it. An urban artist known only as Slinkachu creates tiny worlds using miniature plastic people placed in real world locations.
Don't do it
Slinkachu's work sees him create small scenes on streets around London, which he then photographs for his collection. Unlike other urban artists such as Banksy, Slinkachu's work is easily missed and could be accidently crushed under your foot.
Keeping off the rain
Slinkachu's latest 'Concrete Ocean' collection of small scale scenes includes a man boating across a puddle, a one-inch tall city gent attempting to hail a cab and a couple of naughty boys throwing Lego onto a motorway.
Rowing across a puddle
One of Slinkachu's previous projects involved using snails across the city. The artist used non-toxic paints to draw graffiti onto living snails and then photographed the creatures as they made their way slowly through the urban landscape.
It's hard catching a cab
In Slinkachu's latest collection there is also a couple marooned on a tennis ball deserted island and a superhero about to attempt flight using a party popper as a rocket.
Hanging out
Slinkachu creates, and then abandons, tiny installations around London using reworked railway model figures that he then records photographically. He explains: "I really like the idea that you can be trundling to work one day and find some uncommissioned outdoor art, something on the floor or pasted on a wall. I prefer work that isn't thrust in your face.
Ready to pop
Slinkachu has also created installations in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Manchester and Stavanger in Norway. He told The Economist how he got started with miniature art, "I started buying hard plastic train set figures and modifying them. One guy who was riding a bike, I turned him into a superhero about to fly off a building".
Ready to fly
Unlike many other artists Slinkachu quite likes the idea that you could walk past his work without knowing. He said: "There is a high chance that my installations may never be found. My scenes are made with tiny models and left hidden away on city streets, so they may be lost. But that's what I like about them". The Concrete Ocean exhibition will be at London's Andipa gallery from 3 March to 2 April 2011.
