Unapologetically provocative, Whatshisname (aka Sebastian Burdon) fuses themes of childhood nostalgia and pop culture to create artworks that inspire happy and joyful feelings. His witty creative alias - inspired by his difficulty remembering artists' names - reflects his art, which has ruffled more than a few feathers in the industry.
Sebastian grew up in eastern Poland in the 1980s and ‘90s, during a time of political and socio-economic unrest. At the age of seven, he began to create imagery using an ATARI® 130XE™ computer. Because of his dyslexia, visual imagery was his way of understanding the world, with television programmes and films having a huge impact on his creative style.
After studying IT and computers in Warsaw, he moved to London, where he finished his education at Kingston University and became an assistant for Mat Collishaw, a prominent member of the Young British Artists alongside Damien Hirst. At the same time, 3D-printing technology was becoming more popular and affordable, which gave him the freedom to combine his technical knowledge and artistic 3D experience.
His POPek series of balloon dogs initially began as a parody of the contemporary American artist Jeff Koons. This quickly evolved into different poses, including yoga dogs, along with urinating and defecating dogs. The collection hit the headlines in 2012, when the London Underground failed to see the funny side and banned his art from the Art Below exhibition at their underground stations for being 'offensive'.
Unabashedly provocative, Whathisname’s fusion of architectural visualisation and themes of childhood, nostalgia and pop culture has created artworks that inspire happiness while exploring our adult psyches. In addition to his POPek dogs, Whatshisname has created the unforgettable Gone series which bring to life a selection of childhood heroes, including Mickey Mouse, Bart Simpson, Winnie-the-Pooh and Buzz Lightyear.
These haunting, shadowed images indicate his interest in the ‘dark side’, while symbolising a deep-rooted sense of nostalgia. He explains: “It’s showing our childhood heroes reaching out to us with an extended hand and saying: ‘Hello, I’m still here, do you remember me?’. Or if those are fading memories, they are saying goodbye.” Whatshisname was inspired to create the Gone series after dreaming about a figure from his childhood. “They only appeared as a faded silhouette,” he remembers. “It felt like meeting with an old family member or a good friend who l hadn't see in a very long time. After waking up I could still remember the feeling, but I couldn't remember who the person was, only a shadowy outline which could have been anyone”.
Whatshisname/Sebastian adds: “I created this series of work to acknowledge the influence of our childhood on our future selves. It’s a tribute to a happy childhood and to a feeling of nostalgia. Many of us hold on to something special and meaningful that we grew out of but still remember fondly. The Gone series is exactly that – it’s aimed at adults, not kids”.
Whatshishame’s work is on permanent display at the Singapore Science Centre, and is shown at art fairs across the globe, from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, New York and London. In 2021, four of his large-scale dogs were on display at Covent Garden; however, his most audacious exhibition took place in 2023, when three sculptures and three prints was sent 30 km space on a special launch vehicle for his Art Above Earth show.
One of the pieces sent up was a sculpture of a breakdancing astronaut, and this piece was expanded into a collection of dancing spaceman sculptures, One Small Step. “I chose the topic of astronauts because of my ongoing fascination with space and the new discoveries of the James Webb space telescope,” the artist explains.
Whatshisname, also known as Sebastian Burdon, is not just an artist but a visionary who skilfully blends his technical expertise with profound artistic sensibilities. His journey from graphic design to fine art has been nothing short of remarkable, marked by a fearless exploration of themes ranging from pop culture to childhood nostalgia. Whatshisname's creations are profoundly evocative, inviting viewers to delve into the depths of their own psyches. Whatshishame’s work is on permanent display at the Singapore Science Centre, and is shown at art fairs across the globe, from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, New York and London.
March 2023 saw Whatshisname take his artwork to new heights as he launched his first exhibition into space! This interactive showcase featured a diverse selection of his boundary-pushing creations, including pieces from his Gone series. Among the stars, these captivating pieces took on a new dimension. Watch the out-of-this-world exhibition take off below!
Featuring a cross-generational mix of iconic figures, beloved side characters and cult favourites from books, film and TV, Whatshisname has created a collection of over 20 characters in his popular Gone series.
We're thrilled to unveil four captivating additions to Whathisname’s Gone collection. Building upon the haunting beauty of his previous works, these new pieces delve deeper into the nostalgic realm of childhood heroes, inviting viewers on a poignant journey of reminiscence and introspection. The silhouetted superhero characters extend their hands from the canvas – are they saying “goodbye” or are they reminding us “we are still here, don’t forget about us”? The interpretation is left to you, inviting a personal reflection on the enduring presence of these iconic figures in our lives.
In this latest instalment, we witness the enduring presence of iconic superheroes in four mesmerising artworks.
The witty Whatshisname brings us a series of out-of-this-world sculptures of dancing spacemen in the new One Small Step collection, plus exciting new additions to the Gone Series. After sending a sculpture of a breakdancing astronaut into space last year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landings, Whatshisname brings us a new collection of dancing spaceman sculptures in the One Small Step collection. His gallery in space, the Art Above Earth exhibition, was a sensation, and the astronaut sent into space has inspired him to create even more. “I chose the topic of astronauts because of my ongoing fascination with space and the new discoveries of the James Webb space telescope,” the artist explains.
Whathisname’s sculpture release sees a new take on his signature fun-loving pooping balloon dogs, originally created as a parody of the work of artist Jeff Koons, with an incredible new work made from glass crystal. This new POPek balloon dog is just as cute and funny as his friends, but as he's made of glass crystal, he looks splendid under different lights, and will be a huge talking point in your home as you can see in the video below!
The series, inspired by the natural behaviour or real-life dogs is a favourite among collectors. Unashamedly cheeky, the pooping balloon dog has become an instant classic among Pop Art-lovers and design enthusiasts, having been featured in galleries and public installations across the UK; most recently venturing into space in Whatshisname’s first solo exhibition outside of Earth’s atmosphere.
The world of Whatshisname is both a fun and emotional one, as he mixes the light-heartedness of his balloon dogs with the wistful nostalgia of his Gone series of favourite childhood characters.
Whatshisname created his iconic Gone series after dreaming about a figure from his childhood. “They only appeared as a faded silhouette,” he remembers. “It felt like meeting with an old family member or a good friend who l hadn't see in a very long time. After waking up I could still remember the feeling but I couldn't remember who the person was, only a shadowy outline which could have been anyone”.
The extended hands of the characters stuck to the face of the canvases remind us about the presence of these characters. Are they saying goodbye while fading from our memories as we focus our attention elsewhere in adult lives? Or are they saying: “We are still here, don’t forget about us!” as they fade into the past? It’s up to the viewer to decide what their childhood heroes are saying to them. “I created this series of work to acknowledge the influence of our childhood on our future selves,” says Whatshisname.
“It’s a tribute to a happy childhood and to a feeling of nostalgia. Many of us hold on to something special and meaningful that we grew out of but still remember fondly. The Gone series is exactly that – it’s aimed at adults, not kids”.
The Gone Series has been one of collectors favourites with originals a few originals available.
Originally created as a parody of Jeff Koons’ signature balloon dogs – which have sold for up to $58.4 million at auction – this series is inspired by the behaviour of real-life dogs, including a German Shepherd and Yorkshire Terrier from Sebastian’s childhood, and the puppy he owns now. The name is split into two parts: the ‘Pop’ refers to Pop Art and the sound that a real balloon would make, while the ‘ek’ is taken from a nickname of Sebastian’s high school friend. He adds: "While some artists approach the subject from the perspective of a toy or a balloon dog being supersized, I create my sculptures with the narrative of a balloon dog becoming a real dog."
The new collection follows the success of Sebastian's debut release, and saw the London-based artist explore some of history's best-loved cartoon characters. The creations of famed animation artists and studios like MGM, Disney and Pixar are shown in an entirely new light; his monochromatic silhouettes are unsettling yet beautiful, with an ethereal, dreamlike aesthetic created through the graduation of shadows. In complete contrast, his balloon dogs are vibrant and playful, with the hand-sprayed resin sculptures boasting a glossy finish for a contemporary Pop Art look. Mix with a minimalist décor to add a splash of colour, or combine with your own nostalgic items for a style statement - there are no rules!
Art makes a wonderful wedding gift, and at Castle Fine Art, we have something for everyone, from modern to traditional and everything in between! And we have gift cards so they can make their own choice, so take a look at our curated selection.
Whether you’re a fan of pugs, Jack Russells or Pomeranians, we’ve got something to satisfy your canine cravings. Hurry, these adorable pieces will go for walkies very soon.
If you remember Doctor Who and love Disney, you'll love our selection of cartoon-themed art - featuring an appearance from TV legend, the late Terry Wogan.
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