Credit: Matt Dixon
http://www.mattdixon.co.uk/
Please see this recent note from Matt. If you wish to leave any messages, comments, questions or pieces of writing inspired by his art, I will pass them on as best I can.
My name is Matt Dixon. For over ten years I’ve been making pictures of robots. Exploring the world they inhabit and collecting the art into the ‘Transmissions’ books.
Since being diagnosed with a rare eye condition in 2015, the time I spend with my robot art has become more precious than ever. The condition, a macular dystrophy, means that I am slowly losing my central vision. There’s no cure and it’s impossible to say how quickly the deterioration will progress; I simply don’t know how long I’ll be able to continue working the way I know.
Knowing there’s a day waiting for me in the future when I’ll have to stop or change the way I work is scary, but it’s a wonderful motivator and I don’t think I’ve ever been so productive. The urge to explore the world my robots inhabit has never been so strong. I’ve always enjoyed my work but since learning about my eye condition I appreciate each brush stroke in a way I never have before.
The diagnosis left me feeling pretty low for a while but really it was just a reminder to savor the moment and enjoy the wonders that are all around us. I think that’s the message my robots have been trying to send all along.
A crowd funding campaign for Transmissions 3, my new collection of robot art, is in progress.
(From his recent post on BoredPanda)
Lola
Posted at 13:28h, 02 MarchI will wait for you my friend, how ever long it may take. My heart will stay alight, how ever dark it may be. People seem to walk by but I never spot you. My eyes shall get tired but my search for you will not. Do you see me? Can you see me?
Megan
Posted at 13:30h, 02 MarchThe robot sat down as he thought about his shady past. “No one will know.”, he said as he looked up at the stars and turned his little bulb on as it faded to dusk. The stars were chiming a refreshing tune and lulled the little robot to sleep.
Ruby y6
Posted at 13:36h, 02 MarchThere in a dark, isolated room a small light came from one of the corners . Getting closer and closer, ” beep beep bot” a small robot slowly moving its metal arms . The robot wasn’t the usual
Lewis
Posted at 13:40h, 02 MarchThe robot looks like he is sitting and waiting for something
No , he isn’t looking at the moth
Yes I think he has and idea
I think he has a friend he has fell out with and really needs him in this situation
I think he feels upset
I feel sorry for him because he doesn’t really have anyone and he is in a darks desolated place
It is called patience because he might be lost and waiting for someone to help him
Dan
Posted at 13:53h, 02 MarchAll alone, no one to love, no one to cuddle when you are down just living in a dark shadow forever.
SiTyanna
Posted at 13:58h, 02 MarchLooking at the moth
To show that he is still on and wants to be loved
His friend might be the mother
He might feel Danes because that is the look on the face
I feel sad for him because he has no family
He might have patience to wait for family
Waiting for school to end
Patience is good
Harrison Wheeldon
Posted at 14:01h, 02 MarchA broken,run down robot sat on the top shelf of the shed. It was dark and dusty. The bulb on the robot’s head was silent and dead. The robot’s steel skin was rusty. All of it’s body was rigged and chipped. A harmless moth flew above the robot’s head. Then, as if the moth transmitted power to the bulb on the robot’s head, the bulb sparked to life. Then, the robot awoke from it’s slumber and came alive, once again. The abandoned robot died just like the first time but the light of the bulb stayed on to light the shed for a eternity, the shed was abandoned, just like the robot.
Dajaune
Posted at 14:05h, 02 MarchHello my name is boji and I’m a lonely robot I can’t see very well but I’m still happ. The light on my head is to say i am still alive. When it is morning that is when I have most fun. I go to my friends coned street. I am the light of the world. No you speaks with anyone else, because of phones THEY ARE TAKING OVER. Not 1person has came outside all day, all week for that matter. I love my family but they don’t love me. I am trying to stay positive, someone isgoing to find me I won’t give up. I will find a robot who would like me. I have got one friend Jibo and he is new so everybody loves him not me. I don’t mind that though because he is loving and caring. My bulb inside is made of a love heart all thanks to jibo.
Anonymous
Posted at 14:07h, 02 MarchDear diary
I sat there staring at the dim,tedious, monotonous wallsas usual . Second after second, minute after minute ,hour after hour :I waited and waited. Sometimes I wonder if people ever think robots have feelings .Waiting and waiting for someone to give me the home I never had:(.Rustic and camouflaged within the darkness a small light shone as bright as the huge glowing orb up in the blankets of blue. Sometimes I sit and wonder where I came from : whether my parents will come back or not or if I even have any.I was born in this tunnel : even though I’ve never known what it’s called. Watching night wither and dawn awakes .Patiently waiting for someone with love, with a heart , and that small amount of care . But no I sit here in the dark . I live in a world of darkness ( both mentally and physically) but but I will always have that love within me from my unknown parents.
Jacob
Posted at 14:13h, 02 MarchNo one around to talk to me. I thought I might aswell be dead. People would just walk by thinking I was nothing or invisible. I would suffocate all day in the cold with no food , no drink , no nothing. The only person who said something was this 5 year old little girl who asked if I was ok. I’m a robot maybe people think I wouldn’t I would suffer. But I suffer too just like you humans. I got abandoned 3 years ago by this boy well his parents who thought I was dangerous. But I have feelings. I still have my light on so someone could see me and maybe rehome me. I’ve been in this cold dark alley way for 3 years now I want to be in a home , in the warmth. I just want a home NOW! My family don’t love me , I have no friends I just need a home. My mum always told me to be patient but I can’t. I’m just waiting for something good to happen for me. I want someone to love me , someone to appreciate me. Oh well I may not live forever but at least I’ve never had any illnesses. I just need to appreciate life. Maybe I’ll won’t have any luck in life or maybe the day will come.
Nevaeh
Posted at 14:13h, 02 MarchQ1-The robot might be waiting for someone or something.
Q2-I’m not sure because it doesn’t look like he has eyes.
Q3-The robot might have had an idea.
Q4-The shape of the light bulb might mean that he’s still on and still loved.
Q5-The robot might be an old toy that no one played with or cared about.
Q6-The robot might feel isolated it looks like his all alone and that no one cares about him
Q7-I feel sad for the robot because it seems like the robot doesn’t have any one to care for him.
Q8-I think that it’s called patience because he could be waiting for someone or something.
Mickaya
Posted at 14:15h, 02 MarchI am a robot ,and had a Human family and a human friend until the day came . Darkness,glum that my life it all started when I was abandoned by a 7 year old boy. I don’t get what I did to him they thought I was dangerous I wasn’t but I am now. lonely ,sadness, feeling like am not worth anything, it will not carry on. I may look nice but inside I’m kreeek the attic door opened… Was it the boy? My hearts shattered there was nothing left inside of me. Only darkness
Lois
Posted at 14:15h, 02 MarchDear diary,
My names Lee and my life has always been lonely. I don’t know if I was created by a human or I have robot parents. All I remember is being in this alleyway my whole life. I wish someone actually cared about me or maybe asked if I was ok. Because I’m not. I’m just sat here against the same wall; in the same alleyway; in the same town. Maybe one day, just one day I’ll be loved and wanted. I stretched my frail fingers out and looked up to hear foot steps in the distance. It sounded like… No! Really could it be? Metal clanked together whilst I looked up to see another lightbulb on top of a rustic figure. “Hi… I’m Lilo, Are you ok?” The figure whispered.
“I’m Lee,” I muttered anxiously.
“Why are you in this dull boring alleyway?” She asked. Lilo seemed so bubbly and friendly.
“I’m not sure, I’ve been here my whole life.”
“We’ll come on and follow me,” she said.
“Ok.” I replied nervously.
After a slow long walk I arrived. In a large colourful room were dozens of robots. Since that day I’ve never been happier, I now have a home and a family. People care about me.
Emily
Posted at 14:16h, 02 MarchRustic and shrouded in darkness sat the motionless little robot . Alone and unloved he hadn’t been touched for years.but he still keped his lite on .just in case . Some one loved him.but as years pasted and the deadly silence haunted the maze of ally ways and as night withered the chiming of the stars lulled him to sleep
Alicia
Posted at 14:16h, 02 MarchThere was once a little boy who was playing with his friends. They were having a race and some one was playing volleyball with a big bouncy ball. Whilst he was walking back into class he felt a little lonely so he went and sat in the corner. He sat there for 30 mins nad realised he was doing nothing. He went to tell the teacher that he lost his eye and that’s .
Mason
Posted at 14:17h, 02 MarchI’m lonely none of the other robots like me but I’m still happy so I sat down and waited for something to come.Something to happen then a moth came and sparked me to life something actually loved the wire in my light bulb made the shape of a heart
Kelly
Posted at 14:21h, 02 MarchHow much longer do I have to wait? It’s been 27 years since I last saw their face. I haven’t been loved in years. It’s as if I’m lifeless. Invisible. Nothing notices me. Am I really just a lifeless, invisible lump of metal? I was dumped here by them, 27 years ago. I don’t remember much, but…I do know that they were heart, beaten. Injured. I want to know what happened all those years ago. Bink.what was that? Buzz. Buzz. Is that a moth? A bright light filled the corner. Was that me? A warm, tingly feeling burned inside me. What was this? Is this the feeling of love? The feeling of being cared for? I reached for the beautiful creature before my eyes. It gently sat itself on my rusty, metal finger. A few minutes later, the moth had left. I hope it comes back again. I want it to come back. There’s only one word I can say. Patience.
SiTyanna
Posted at 13:40h, 23 MarchAs the robots waits and the night passes a switcher of the light flickers in a corner.As the day becomes night.As he tries to find a comfy place to wait for his friend which has not seen in a long time.As the light switches on and off time passes and he is still late.The robot thinks if he is coming but then he has a thought maybe I shall meet him tomorrow a small chance I thought.
Pilarcita
Posted at 13:33h, 14 OctoberThe robot is sitting alone for a long time missing his robot family that is far far away and the light in his head means that suddendly he’s got an idea of how he can reunite with them soon.