Toy-Review: RAS 2010 by dust
An exceptional package from DUST came in the collective form of a RAS 2010 figure-set, bookmarks, namecards and a trio of pins. (Much thanks, David!)
This is the Regular Edition of the RAS 2010 series, which includes a "Personal Medic" figurine, with this set limited to an edition of 40. Both figures, as well as the series, had been hand-painted by the Germany-based artist named dust. You can score this online via the dust-shop for £48 per.
We had covered the figures of dust on TOYSREVIL for a while, so it was with much pleasure to have held the actual toy figurine in my hand, IMHO. The last time we had a review of RAS was back in 2008 by Guest-Reviewer Sjors Trimbach
Housed in a nondescript carton-box, the figures are wrapped individually in ziplock baggies. I actually appreciate and like the fuss-free element to the set. A huge part of me thinking this could just be a regular baggie with header-card" toy, but perhaps this is what provides the toy with it's own distinct characteristic, and no doubt provide protection to the figures themselves!
I have no idea how brittle they are (if they indeed are) and I have no plans to find out myself. They are too precious to own and hold, to do so.
Of particular note (and I am saying the obvious here) - these are ORIGINAL SCULPTS and designs. Hand-casted and hand-painted by the artist, and one of THE key representations of the art toy movement in Europe - emphasis on the "art" - without the chest-busting and flag-waving of most figures from that region, IMHO. The notion of low-brow is heightened by the concept of street-art with a decidedly personal slant being the style of dust, fueling this figure, as well evident in his other creations like AlterEGO and Schergen figures.
[CLICK for creations and customs of dust on TOYSREVIL]
The figures are made of polyurethane ("like the stuff they use for skateboard wheels", said Sjors) and are individually hand-painted by dust.teh main RAS figure is articulated at the shoulders, and the sculpts reacts with the movement by providing a frozen moment, in this case a cheeky / friendly "hello / salute". Standing 7cm tall, the main figure is indeed a delight and impressive to hold. The "Personal Medic" itself, while provides a pedestrian foil to the figure, is non-articulated. You sense a story unfolding between this two, but none are provided for you, as you have to imagine the story unfolding, in your own mind itself. Both figure stand well on their own, but I would not imagine great shelf-warmers if you are prone to regular shelf-diving antics of your toys. These toys are surprisingly light in weight (which makes for swell shipping costs, methinks).
The pins/buttons and print is a super-swell touch, and are much appreciated! I do not see either listed on dust's shop, so would assume that these items might not necessarily be able to be purchased. I think we see too little of the bears-imagery in the print, and reckon they may well make a nice series of mini-figures!
Check out the works and worlds of dust here:
- Main website @ http://dirtydust.de
- dust Blog
- Facebook group
- Twitter @dirtydust.
