Dominant Gubbins

Original figure: ‘Lobot’ (Kenner, 1980).

Modified cardback, bespoke blister, toy parts, polystyrene sheets, printed acetate, epoxy putty, acrylic paint.

“The SARS Wars characters that I have created typically represent archetypes and aggregates, not specific people. However, this early creation specifically satirises Dominic Cummings, a political advisor to the UK Government during the Pandemic (and before).

Cummings famously admitted to driving to Barnard Castle during a lockdown, offering the rather bizarre explanation that he was ‘testing a pair of glasses’ as a justification for this family outing — hence the eye-test/map accessory.

A number of politicians have lost important laptops and USB drives over the years, especially on public transport, and I conflated these instances into ‘Dominant Gubbins’ through another accessory: a ‘losable’ data-stick. Combined with the mis-worn face mask, these references forefront the negligence and incompetence of this satirical character.

The name ‘Dominant’ refers to the extent of his political influence, and ‘Gubbins’ to the intricate bureaucratic machinations of the UK’s political system. I like to think of this toy as a sort of materialised political cartoon.

The quotes are genuine though: from Cummings himself.”