About
Gareth Jon Strachan
What's happening
Run, Robot, Run explores three main themes:
1. The Roboticization of Identity
2. Robots in Popular Culture
3. The Relationship between Neurodiversity and Robots
Taken together, the work is a fusion of robotic reveries and near-future visions that draws on creator Gareth Strachan’s love of science-fiction, his background working with complex young people and his own neurodiversity. The starting point for this futurist offering, was largely his animation miBOTS which began life as a live-action feature film but, heavily touched by his youth work, the story soon became about an autistic boy who believed he was a robot, in a complicated adult world where everyone had a personal robot - so-called miBOTS.
To crystalize his vision, Gareth brought in the talents of illustrator Beth McInnes whose playful renderings helped realise this strange, robot-ready “Blisstopia”. Securing a development pitch fund in 2022, the world of miBOTS continued to develop, with the creation of an animation trailer with acclaimed animation director, Yoni Goodman (Oscar-nom Waltz with Bashir, The Congress, Where is Anne Frank).
"Having time to create and some funds to play with, Gareth and Beth pushed their humanoid ideas out into popular culture, asking the question: ‘What would our beloved icons look like as futuristic robots?"
With this thought, The RoBotles were born (an homage to Gareth’s favourite band) in which The Beatles iconic albums were playfully – and robotically – reimagined. Cue Gareth’s Create South East mentor, Marc de Launay (animator, producer and musician) who began experimenting with animation, AI and musical pastiche to create ‘animated albums’, sound bytes and fully-formed Robotle music. The exhibition at Mid-Street Lab brings together several years of artistic, futurist experimentation - and the launch of the RoBotles online shop.
A member of the fabricated four – John Lenn:on/ff – will be putting in a special appearance from Space at the Opening!
www.therobotles.com
@TheRoBotles
