Zombie Mario
Genesis
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Zombie Mario is probably the most unexpected piece I’ve ever made and, curiously, the one that gave me international exposure. This work is an intervention, a modified or customized figure. Before altering it, it was a Super Mario figure that had been gifted to me some time ago and was just sitting in my studio as decoration.
One day, feeling a bit overwhelmed by another project, I found myself staring at it and thought I could do something with it. I really wanted to explore the clean-cut effect on the character’s “flesh”, inspired by the anatomical work of Jason Freeny and the murals of graffiti artist Kram.
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I’ve always loved horror films, so turning it into a zombie seemed like a good justification to slice the character’s body.
Unexpected Meaning
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Once finished, and without having intended it, Zombie Mario seemed to speak about the constant resurrection of icons. It had transformed into a figure somewhere between nostalgia and irony, between childhood and adult awareness.
For me, it represents that mix of tenderness and saturation we feel towards the icons that have always accompanied us, revived again and again to adapt to new generations.
Limited Edition
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Shortly after sharing the result on social media, the manufacturer Pobber, based in Singapore, contacted me to propose producing a limited edition.​
It was presented at Shanghai Toy Show in 2017, and it didn’t take long to sell out. Next year a full black version was also released at Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention 2018.
Legacy
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Zombie Mario is a key art toy in my career, both for the international visibility it brought me and for what it taught me as an artist: sometimes the most relevant works can emerge from the willingness to explore, from detachment from the result, and above all, from simply enjoying the process.
The figure was featured in “Figure It Out”, a publication showcasing over 150 designer toys within the contemporary art-toy scene, along with my Sasha Velour piece.
