Toy collecting has always been a part of streetwear and vice versa. Comic characters and pop culture have always flirted with shoe brands and streetwear and it’s going to be always safe to assume that those who go to Sneaker Conventions are almost the same guys you see at Toy Conventions and the like. If you’ve been to any Toy Convention here in the Philippines, you may have seen these massive superheroes and pop culture sculptures on display. You may even have had a picture with a couple of them.
Well today, I am more than proud to go nerd out and strike a conversation with Greg Asilo of Greg Display Life Size Statues. We talk about his humble beginnings and how a family business gave him a creative path that only a few can follow.
First off, how did Greg Display start out? Was it giant superheroes from the get-go?
Greg Display was founded the year 2014.
Nagsimula din lahat dahil sa hobby ng father namin at naituro nya.
You are always present in Toy Conventions, how do you decide on what characters to display for that particular event?
We started joining exhibits/toy conventions way back in 2006.
Then tuloy tuloy na. One event napansin agad ng maraming tao since di pa masyado madami gumagawa ng lifesize so far kami lang ng father namin (Jun Asilo) ang nagpasimula sa Toy Community and nagpakilala ng life-sized sa mga event.
Particular na display characters are DC and Marvel characters. Highlight palagi si Hulk especially because of his big size. Pang-gulat talaga.
Can you share with us a brief description of how the process of creating a life-size character?
First, you need you find a reference or dapat maraming ideas kase bawal gayahin mismo ang isang significant character. Once you’ve finalized the concept art then you will sketch it or make an actual size of drawing sa cardboard para makuha ang size. We’re using Styrofoam for the first sculpt. After mabuo yung figure, tatapalan sya ng fiberglass para don nai-detail. Then once all ok, we also do the details on the paint. Not just a paint, dapat mag mukhang tao talaga.
What’s the biggest custom character you’ve ever built? Can you share how the project came about?
Way back in 2000, the biggest statue we made was Godzilla with a height of 6ft tall and a length of 10ft. Then 2010, nakagawa kami ng Father namin ng 10ft Hulk na maipagmamalaki namin na kami lang sa Pinas ang merong ganun that even international countries ay napansin.
Of all your works, what is the piece that is your most favorite of them all?
Actually lahat dapat meron ka lalo pag Avengers or JLA. Pero sa lahat Hulk and Spidey talaga.
If you had a chance to build a giant sculpture in the middle of Edsa, who would it be and why?
In the middle of EDSA, I think it would be good if it’s the last life-size statue that our late Father did. It was an Aquaman Statue.
Among your works, what is the piece that you feel is your biggest pride and joy?
For sure lahat syempre, bawat gawa pinaghihirapan kaya nai-excite ako kada natatapos ang bawat sculpture.
We heard that this is a family business tradition right? Can you share with us the biggest thing you’ve learned so far in a creative business like this?
Yes it is a family business started by our late Father (Jun Asilo). Since ito na ang kinamulatan namin, and when our Dad retired I just continue the business under the name of “Greg Display” which is my Father’s idea.
Well, the biggest thing I’ve learned was: Sa trabaho dapat gusto mo and hilig mo.
Pangalawa, dapat mahal mo ang trabaho and last dapat masaya ka.
Any words for our This Is Hype readers?
Yun laging sinasabi ng Father namin:
“Ubusin mo ang lakas mo sa pagsisikap habang ika’y bata pa,
Dahil pag ika’y matanda na mahirap nang habulin ang mga pangarap.”
Well said, thank you Greg.
