by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

What do fans of Welsh weirdo-pop wunderkinds Super Furry Animals and Japanese toy-collecting otaku obsessives have in common? An appreciation of Pete Fowler's Monsterism, that's what. The U.K. artist (sculptor, illustrator, animator, painter, cartoonist and toy designer) made his mark with the CD jackets and Flash-animation videos for SFA, leading to a line of playthings and more with hip Japanese toymakers Cube Works. The company deals in gatchapon, small but carefully-crafted collectible toys - tiny sculptures, really - snatched up by grown-ups with a taste for freaky chic.

Fowler's fully-realized (if deliberately mysterious) goon-iverse is called Monsterism, an "island" populated by ghosts, goats, lizard-like lumps, hipster homunculi, bat-skulls and bubble-grubs. Consider it equal parts H.P. Lovecraft and Hello Kitty, pagan mythos and hip-hop chic. Previously unavailable in Montreal, Monsterism toys have just arrived at the ultra-hip art space/boutique Turf Gallery in Old Montreal. Between that and the SFA gig in town this week, the Mirror figured it was time to hassle Fowler for some monstrous musings.

Mirror: What I love about your characters is the perfect balance of cute and sinister, attraction and repulsion. How do other people generally perceive your creatures, and have you ever been struck by someone's particularly curious perception?

Pete Fowler: I think a lot of people have thought along similar ideas to the ones I originally had with the characters. I haven't, up to now, given too much information about them as I think the gaps are filled by people's imagination and curiosity. Almost all of the ideas I've heard are interesting. I had a competition on my Web site [www.monsterism.

com] where you had to send in an image of a particular character's parents. Some of the entrants' images and their Monsterism beliefs were quite something and went into great length! I'm starting to give more information with my toys and characters, especially with the next series planned. I'm working on more focused themes and plan to release a book to accompany the new figures that will help to explain and fill in the world in which they inhabit. I still would like to keep a feeling of mystery where there are things that defy explanation, as in our world.

Big in (and on) Japan

M: I can certainly see how your work would click with the Japanese, hence the Cube Works hook-up. I'm curious if, conversely, Japanese art and pop culture have been much of an inspiration to you?

PF: Most definitely. When I was starting off in my career, Japan and Japanese culture were very influential and I found myself inspired by the many aspects of their visual culture. I particularly liked the traditional artwork that portrayed the myths, stories and everyday folklore and discovered artists such as Shigeru Mizuki, a master of the Japanese supernatural underworld. Many aspects of Japanese pop culture interest me, from everyday packaging to gadgets, food and music. It seems to be a very vibrant, creative culture that has its own aesthetic and identity, unique to itself.

M: You've done some fabulous work with SFA. Do you guys all work this stuff out together, or do they give you carte blanche in your endeavours?

PF: I've been lucky to be working with them in an ongoing creative relationship and almost left to my own devices once initial meetings have been had. I often get just the early demos or individual tracks and possible titles early on to give me something to work from. From there on, I'm trusted to take the artwork in the direction I think works with the music, themes or feeling suggested. The working relationship we have has been built up through several years of releases and I think the creative process benefits a lot from the time put in.

Fowler's Monsterism toys are available at Turf (410 St-Pierre). Super Furry Animals, with guests Papa M, are at Café Campus on Friday, Feb. 6, 7pm, $17.50