PSFK Talks to Sci-Fi Sculptor Leeroy New

22-year-old Leeroy New has stirred up a bit of buzz in Manila on account of his provocative public sculptures which play a stark contrast to our visually conservative city. We got a chance to chat with the budding sculptor shortly after he finished his latest assignment, “Winged Victory”, a Boccioni-esque piece (pictured above) for Nike on view in front of their Manila store.

So how is life as a full-time artist in Manila?

Being a full-time sculptor, or an artist in general for that matter, is next to impossible in the Philippines especially if you’re just starting out. As a sculptor, you work with relatively more expensive materials. I prefer working in large scale, plus I’m fascinated with using industrial materials. You already see how problematic this can be [here].

You’re right. The economics simply make it very hard to produce art in the Philippines. How do you stay afloat and how do you get your sculptures funded?

Most of my earnings from the works that I do sell end up funding new works. That’s generally how it works. I’m lucky enough to be getting commissions from private collectors and ad agencies. And it’s the same cycle all over again. You really have to work your ass off if you want to continue doing what you want. We’re crazy that way.

You have made a lot of sculptures - like the twisted versions of your girlfriend - that seem to come from raw fantasy. It reminds me of Surrealism or Art Brut. Is it all in your head or do you get inspiration from other sources?

I’m fascinated with the mythology of sci-fi and futurism - how we project the future to be, and the implications of this in relation to my immediate third world environment. Industrial design is a constant source of inspiration since industrial design greatly contributes to the realization of this futuristic fantasy.

I hope to get more into industrial design and film production in the near future. That seems to be the logical path for my practice.

Thanks, Leeroy!