Interview with Luke from Cupco about his project The United Nations of Cupco.

What is the Manifesto for the United Nations of Cupco?

My sister wrote a big manifesto for me in the style of the United Nations charter. its really good:

The project echoes the egalitarian charter of the united nations. All artists (nations) are given a voice, a means of inputting into the collective form of the United Nations of Cupco. Luke Temby makes a call to expressive arms whereby each artist (nation) is given free reign to express their individual voice disparate and completely particular from its fellow members. Bound by the articles of a structural template the dolls are created in isolation and come together to grace the walls of Damien Minton Gallery. A meeting of nations in a plethora of colour, texture and individual interpretation, multi faceted flags of expression.

I wanted to get all my favourite artists worldwide together and working on the Cupco doll template and that way they wouldnt be doing anything evil or bad. The main aim is to keep these shiftless, lazy, no-nothing artists off the streets and keep them busy with some handy manual labour.

What nations are the most strongly represented?

As expected world bully big boy United States has the most delegates followed closely by Australia and then Japan. A nice cross-section of nations is represented.

World peace - sounds good!  What are the 5 main ingredients to world peace?
Sewing. Stuffing. Sexing. Eating. Drawing. In that order.

Who are the artistic enemies to world peace?
Money.

Who is the cutest member of the show?
The cutest member is me. The cutest dolls are probably the ones by TADO or APAK.

Who is the most unlikely?
Steven Moore's nudist tennis player is shocking and arousing. Snaggs' Bikini Bandito also very sexy. Diego Medino's Krakka Zakka also quite erotic. I like the sexy ones.

Anything so badly sewn it made you shake your head?
I did all the sewing - so yes. Actually I was surprised by pretty much all of the dolls that come back. As I sewed and stuffed them all I fell a little bit in love with each and every one of them. The love of a sad man for a soft, inanimate toy.

Why is soft good?
Soft is good. Hard is Good.
My motto: Go hard or go soft!

Recommendations for 2009?
Less shows and less sewing. More swimming, skating, Mario and Mayu!

What do you want for Christmas?
A laser.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Opening Night: 16 December 2008

Damien Minton Gallery
61-63 Great Buckingham St
Redfern Sydney     
    
December 10-22 2008