This article was taken from the April 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
And you thought Mario was cut up about the kidnapped princess? New York-based artist Jason Freeny slices open pop-culture characters to reveal their insides. He takes vinyl toys (between eight and 20cm tall) of animated icons such as Stewie Griffin, Nemo and Mario, and stuffs them with Sculpey modelling clay. He then carves out bones and organs using dental tools. "I try to stick to what I imagine their true anatomy would be," says Freeny, 40.
Wired featured his 3D CG renders in issue 05.09, but Freeny has since migrated to meatspace, turning his hobby into a business -- the pieces sell for between £250 and £1,250. "People connect with them because they're childhood friends, such as video-game characters," he says. "I'm bringing them to life."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
