They say that sneakers are all about perspective. Never has that been more true than through the eyes of Nick Glackin. The talented Scot, who goes by @glackster online, has reduced the world of sneakers to a microscopic level through his pint-sized creations, the Microdudes.
This quirky venture imagines iconic sneakers from the perspective of his vertically challenged compadres, who unite to bring our favourite footwear to life stitch by stitch. We recently caught up with Nick to find out more.
Interview W/ Microdudes
Matt Williams (M.W.) – Hey Nick, thanks for chatting with us! Where did the idea for the Microdudes come from?
Nick Glackin (N.G.) – No worries and thanks for the invite! It’s always nice to get a chance to talk about the little folk. So, the Microdudes originally came about as an idea for an Instagram competition that the sneaker store size? was running in conjunction with Nike. It was to coincide with the first Air Max Day celebrations in 2013. The outline of the brief was to take a creative photograph of what Air Max meant to you. From there, I knew I wanted to demonstrate how any Air Max was a big shoe, in relation to the sneaker world, but it had to have a fun element to it. I wasn’t really making any progress in my head on how to convey that idea in a fun way, especially one that I hadn’t seen before, but one day I was walking past a model shop and spotted some tiny architectural figures. The idea just suddenly popped into my head. Scale was going to be the way forward and what better way to show how big a shoe is than to actually make it look larger than life?
The very first Microdudes image I put together was based on Gulliver’s Travels. I staged a little scene with ropes tied over my legs and several figures climbing over me. I then posed more at the base of the scene as if they were hammering in pegs to hold me down, much like when Gulliver wakes up in Lilliput and is completely tied down. I think I used the tag line ‘Air Max, a big shoe in anyone’s world’. From that moment on, I was hooked on the concept of pairing miniatures with sneakers, as I hadn’t seen that specific idea done by anyone else. Sure, there are loads of people making scenes from architectural figures, but I certainly hadn’t seen it being done with shoes.
M.W. – Two specific Microdudes, the rather prim and proper Harold and Maud, have become your mascots. Why did you take a shining to these two in particular?
N.G. – For me, Harold & Maud are almost the antithesis of the sneaker-media world. They’re not cool, they’re not trying to be edgy and they’re not coming up with absurd ways to connect with consumers. They just like doing them – that’s why I like them. They don’t care about brand activations or parties for the launch of new shoes, all that kind of stuff has no meaning to them, they just like doing what they do, in their own little world, and having fun. Besides, you have to remember, they’re old. They make me smile.
M.W. – Don’t need any other reason than that! So, what adventure have Harold and Maud been on lately?
N.G. – At the moment, they’re recovering from a really hectic past few months. They were super lucky to get involved in some amazing projects during the first half of this year – namely with Twitter x adidas, Nike and also a series of scenes for StockX created with Archive.DNA. It’s even crazy for me, just typing those names out, to think that such prestigious brands want to create pieces with Harold and Maud! It’s certainly been an unexpected first half of 2019.
Recently, the challenge has been how to progress Harold and Maud, and get them to develop beyond the static two-dimensional images that you see on Instagram. This is where the recent StockX and Nike projects have really let them shine. Harold and Maud were commissioned to create some pieces for display in a gallery floor environment, which meant that you had to be able to walk around them, a full 360 degrees. That was testing, what you can’t see in the Instagram photographs is all the tape, strings, glue, wooden frames etc. that is used to hold the staging up and keep the image together. It requires a completely different approach, so the fully three-dimensional model scenes were born.
If you find yourself in Nike’s London office, you might spy my ‘Summer of Love’ installation, made to celebrate the release of Jasmine Lasode’s winning ‘On-Air: London’ Air Max 97. Or, if you head to any of the upcoming European Sneakerness events, you’ll most likely catch a glimpse of the six pieces I created for StockX with shoes from the collection of Archive.DNA. All of those were really fun to create.
M.W. – Can you take us through your creative process? Do you create scenes based on specific shoe designs or are you inspired by the miniatures you find?
N.G. – Each scene has got to relate to the shoe. If it doesn’t, then what’s the point? It just becomes an image or scene with no real meaning behind it. Sure, you may create a nice looking image, but, at its core, it’s worthless. Normally I’ll tie into some element of the design of the shoe, or its origins. Granted, sometimes they are quite tenuous, but there will always be a connection and the majority of people that are into sneakers will get it.
The bulk of the time, the initial concept comes first, then I give myself the task of finding the little folk and supporting staging to create the scene. It’s about a 50/50 split so far, as to whether the miniature elements I have in mind exist or not. I often have to butcher a few figures to make the exact ones I want, then paint them all by hand. And it doesn’t help that I have the shakiest hands ever, so that part is probably the most frustrating for me…
M.W. – You could have fooled us! Are there any sneaker grails you are hoping to bring into the Microdudes universe one day?
N.G. – There’s nothing really sneaker-related that I’m planning for. The ones I create for myself are all very spur of the moment. When I get an idea, I have to make it happen almost immediately. I’m very impatient from that perspective. I set myself a little non-sneaker related project a year ago and I still haven’t found or made all of the figures and parts that I need. I should really pull my finger out!
M.W. – We’re inclined to agree! [Laughs] Your photography truly brings your scenes to life. Are there any specific camera tricks and techniques you use?
N.G. – That’s really kind of you to say, thank you. But in all honesty, there are no real tips or tricks to taking the photographs. Some good lighting and a macro lens is all that is really needed. The main work goes into creating the figures and staging the scenes. That part is the most time consuming.
M.W. – The sneaker scene is abuzz with creativity at the moment. Are there any creatives in the scene that have really impressed you lately?
N.G. – There are so many amazing people out there pushing themselves daily, trying to progress and hone their skills. I really respect that and you can see how hard they are working.
In particular, it’s incredible to see people I’ve followed for years deciding to leave the security of their jobs, follow their dreams of becoming a freelance photographer and making a success of it. It’s very inspiring. There are too many people to list without accidentally leaving someone out, but the ones who take that leap to pursue their dreams, those are the ones who are nothing short of amazing.
M.W. – Can’t agree more! We’ve noticed that brands have taken a shining to your work. Any big projects in the works?
N.G. – It’s funny you should ask that. After what the little folk have been through over the last six months – and what they’ve created in the timeframes that they have had available to them – I actually told myself they were having the rest of the year off to recover… but they were recently asked to get involved in a project that they would have to be insane to turn down! That’s all they can say on that for the time being, we’ll just have to see how it pans out and where it might take them in the world!
Keep up to date with the Microdudes’ shenanigans on Instagram @microdudes.