In his Hackney Wick studio – a large, white room adorned with postcards, sketches and photographs of people’s faces – London-based artist Wilfrid Wood is putting the finishing touches on an oversized sculpture of Mark Zuckerberg’s head.
“I can get quite distracted by people’s looks,” he laughs. “It’s a sort of… slight problem.”
Indeed, Wood’s fascination with faces and bodies has inspired him to create hundreds of caricaturesque sculptures of people. He shows us a Ken doll-sized David Cameron in swimming trunks, telling us that creating nude portraits of public figures gives them an element of humanity. On his shelves are other recognisable heads: a cartoonish Angela Merkel, the squashed face of Wayne Rooney, a plasticine Muhammad Ali.
Wood began his career with a degree in graphics from London’s Central Saint Martins, before going on to work creating latex puppets for a satirical TV show. It was during his TV work that he developed a keen interest in creating 3D sculptures, eventually going freelance full time. He now lives and works in Hackney Wick, one of East London’s most artistic boroughs with over 600 artist studios.
Wood’s quirky handmade portraits have since been exhibited across the world, from Seoul to Arizona. While he has traveled extensively, his British upbringing in a family of artists has had a big impact on the way he works today. He tells Vice that he was surrounded by ‘a very British traditional sort’ of culture, and has been striving his whole life to carve his own identity.
It seems he succeeded: his self-described ‘wonky’ caricatures are instantly recognisable and certainly one-of-a-kind. And he’s not short of inspiration. “I’d like to think that I could do a portrait of anyone,” he tells us. “There’s hardly such a thing as a boring face.”
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
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