We cant say enough and as many times as possible, what massive fans of Robots we are here at Invurt – big, small, electric, atomic, steam, lazer beams for eyes, transforming, fighting, all out fantastic bio/metallalic things – but we’re guessing you’ve noticed this by now.

So when we saw that Sekure D, renowned in the sneaker realm for his amazing custom designs, as well as for his past exhibitions and design work, was putting on another exhibition featuring his array of mechanical minions … well, there was no way we could resist asking him about his futuristic cohorts, how he manages to come up with such rad kick designs, and where he wants to take us on his ride into the future, where Robots > Humans …

First up, tell us how you came to be working as an artist, and how you have found the journey so far?

Well, to cut a long story short, I never studied art or design in school – but during my time at University I became known for customizing sneakers. It was a combination of two of my loves, sneakers and graffiti, and, after a few years, it ended up being a part time job – thats when I began getting into exhibitions, and taking it a bit more seriously.

By the time I finished University, I had to make a choice between getting a “real job” and following my artistic inclinations – I chose to take a risk and give it a shot. It’s been a couple of years since then, and it’s still hard work getting by, but I’m happy with the choice I made.

The show you’re opening at Hogan gallery this week, Robots > Humans, is your third solo show, and you’ve exhibited quite a few times before – what’s different this time around?

My canvas artwork is becoming a lot more mature, its beginning to carry a stronger message, and its beginning to convey my perspectives and interests in a truer fashion. With my early work, I was happy to just illustrate and paint a cool character or random scene here and there, but now I understand that there is more to what I am doing – this show has been very influential in that sense.

How has the process of preparing for an exhibition changed for you since you first started putting your work up in galleries?

In the past, when I was doing solo exhibitions there was no real story line to go along with my work. As I progress through more shows, this is definitely changing. My second show “Toonbots & Roboheroes” carried a similar theme to the current show, whereby my robots, lead by Codename Unknown, the head of the Robot Allegiance, began to dress and re-enact famous superhero battles as their occupational calling. This third show once again follows Codename Unknown, and the Robots, but this time with a different underlying message. It just makes sense to me to have a sense of contiguity in my work; to have an interaction between my artwork and social views seems natural.

It’ll be even stronger in the future.

Whilst we’re on the topic of robots – in order to do a show featuring the mechanicals, you’d have to have a bit of a scifi fan-streak in you – explain to us a little more about this influence in your work, and any other influences you derive ideas from.

Yes, robots … I’m yet to commit an actual human to canvas. I’m definitely a sci-fi fan, but even more so, I’m a comic book fan. Also, growing up, I believe, probably as most generations do, that I had the best run of cartoons available. In the late 80’s and early 90’s we were blessed to have the Transformers, Samurai Pizza Cats, Thundercats, Dinoriders, Xmen and GI Joe – just to name a few, that in accompaniment with my love of comics, graffiti and cinema have really shaped where I have gone with my art.

Now that my work is maturing, however, I’m using these factors to portray my perspective of the world, and our overwhelming reliance on technology. I’m strongly interested in how we as social beings are influenced and controlled on a daily basis, without even consciously recognising it.

This is the direction that I’m interested in pursuing, and where I want to see my work going; it’ll keep the light hearted illustrated, comic book, character based features, but upon greater inspection there will most definitely be a strong social commentary. Robots have become my vehicle for doing thi,s as they represent so much more in todays society than they ever have in the past.

You have constructed a narrative around this latest exhibition, can you give us a little detail on how this story came about, and its eventual adaptation into the images you’re exhibiting?

The Robots > Humans story depicts a future whereby Robots have taken over the world, and all but enslaved what’s left of the human race. They haven’t done this in an attempt to destroy the world, but to save it, after calculations proved mankind’s existence was unsustainable and inherently corruptible. Subsequent to achieving a near extinction of the humans, they existed for the mere sake of existing, and thus begun to desire more – as such they began to participate in activities once conducted by their creators. With the new collection, I’m beginning to illustrate why Robots would have taken this step against mankind.

You do a fair bit of work with customised sneaker design, how does this fit in with your creative work in general?

Successful and wearable custom sneakers need a strong focus on pattern design, in my opinion, that accompanied with attention to detail and the right colour palette usually results in a successful outcome. I was customising sneakers for years before I started painting canvases, and and such they’re an integral part of the Sekure D story, and will most definitely continue to be so in the future.

It’s refreshing to be able to combine both sneakers and canvas artwork, it means I can rotate between the two and keep my designs fresh and new.

Can you tell us a little more about the process by which you produce your customs?

I actually wrote a full how to guide for Sneaker Freaker Magazine, but to make it short and sweet – acetone off the factory finish, paint thin coats of paint (special leather acrylics) and finally seal with a matte varnish. I also sometimes use a wood burner to burn in patterns such as croc skin or a safari print – you can really get wild with customs doing full fabric reconstructions or adding things such as lights but I typically keep my skills to the brush.

Do you have any favourite brands and styles that you generally enjoy working with when producing them, and if so, why?

On a corporate level, Globe has been nothing short of great so far and I’ve enjoyed working with them a lot. On a custom basis, it’s typically Nike that I work with, mostly due to their success in the casual sneaker market, and requests from my customers. I’d really like to work with Adidas, and New Balance, more in the future, as well as apply my skills to some high heels.

Between walls, canvas, customs and design – each has a separate flavour, and each has its own unique appeal – but what areas of artistic expression haven’t you explored yet, that you want to in the future?

I definitely want to have a full installation setup at a show in the future. At Qubic, in New Zealand, I painted about five walls for the show, but a full installation is something I’m looking into developing. To me it makes an exhibition more than a show, and an actual event or wonderland where you can more easily become immersed in the artist’s message, that’s important to me.

You’ve done a fair bit of travelling and been involved in a few exhibitions overseas, what have been the highlights of this journeys, and what have you found it has contributed to your over all artistic output?

The show I had at Qubic at the end of last year was a great experience, as it was my first international solo exhibition. It was an show that forced me to mature, which is reflected in my new collection, and something that will continue to evolve as it is now a strong focus. Outside of that, I really enjoy meeting artists from other countries, as they often bring a different perspective which can be very refreshing.

I like to travel and having work featured around the globe is definitely an honour.

How do you find the Australian scene in terms of support for emerging urban and street artists, and what do you see as the positives and negatives of producing your art within Australia?

The art community – especially the graffiti scene here, is ridiculously good. We have a plethora of talented artists and there’s always a great show to go and see. We don’t have quite the 8000+ galleries of New York, but there are quite a few that support us and what we do. It’s a great place to be, and I am not sure I would want to live anywhere else – but the distance from other countries does bring with it difficulties.

For example, I’ve often been contacted by brands, or celebrities, numerous times to do work – and had the job fade away due to distance and organizational difficulties. It’s so frustrating when you begin work on a project only to find it fade away due to your geographical location.

What are you plans for after you finish up this show?

I have a few things on; my new Globe collaboration sneaker is set to release at the end of this month as well as a few other bits and pieces. Most importantly, on the art front, I’m travelling to Singapore to work with a good friend of mine on a project that I am really looking forward to – who knows what else might happen, there is still half a year to go, I’m always open to new opportunities!

For more info on the opening this week of Sekure D’s show Robots > Humans, check out Collingwoods Hogan Gallery, or check here – also, head over to Sekure Ds website for more news, images, and robot madness…