13 x 2013: Bryan Lie
WHAT: 13 Creators to Look Out for in 2013. The challenge was simple: Identify 13 x Artists / Creators / Designers who will be taking the year two thousand and thirteen by storm, and quiz them! About half of them were also nominated by their fellow practitioner in this endeavor, so it'll be a swell mix indeed! Read what they have to say, and check out the URL-links to their sites to check out more of their works!
Introducing: Bryan Lie!
I met Bryan Lie back in 2010 (pre-Stroke, for me), when I was invited to Jakarta by Plastic Culture for MWFI, and he was introduced to me as an exceptional artist+illustrator, and his website at www.bryanlieart.com proved his mettle. A couple of years forward, Bryan is now the head honcho at Foxbox Studio, who have been releasing their own "original characters" in 1/6th-scale, based on recreations of Gods of lore and myth, as part of the God Complex storyline, which fuels the existence of the beings. Bryan writes that too. If you are new to Foxbox, I would recommend you to CLICK HERE to read both coverage and toy-reviews. With Foxbox poised to release a Thailand Toy Expo-exclusive at the Jan 10-13 event, this seems a perfect time to get acquainted with Bryan Lie, Read on!
TOYSREVIL: Describe how 2012 has been for you, in thirteen words!
BRYAN LIE: Discovery. Perseverance. Survival. Trippy. Threshold. Accountability. Workplay. Hustle. Commitment. Patience. Love. Support. Marriage.
TOYSREVIL: What is the one thing folks might not know you did in 2012.
BRYAN LIE: After I started Foxbox Studio, I stopped doing freelances. I focus myself in building and writing God Complex while at the same time planning how to produce these things as a toy. But as a side, I also did logo works for some very special people. Jakarta locals might know the new hip joint in town called "Fable" and I happened to have a hand in drawing their logo. Another illustration-logo was for an upcoming restaurant/bar coming up by the same people called "Odysseia". Next time you come visit, I'll be sure to take you there :). Let's just say, owls and foxes has been my favorite thing to draw as of late.
TOYSREVIL: Share with us your most triumphant moment in 2012.
BRYAN LIE: I can't recall a single most triumphant moment of 2012. As a whole, I'm pretty proud of myself to continue what I started even when I hit a massive roadblock. It's no secret that entrepreneurship is not an easy job but having no template and nobody to teach you the ropes to build a toy company from zero is almost a suicide mission. So I have to say, I'm very proud of my team and especially my spouse, they really held everything together. In the end, powering through the problem really makes a much more rewarding journey. We are Foxbox, we have good survival instinct.
TOYSREVIL: What is your most favorite toy or piece of art you've seen in 2012?
BRYAN LIE: THIS MADNESS! Those are NOT real fish and NOT a sculpture. Everything we know is a lie.
TOYSREVIL: Which is your single most favorite non-toy-related website in 2012.
BRYAN LIE: Cracked.com ........ Thanks to a stupid friend of mine who introduced me to the site, it became an ultimate time-waster for me (So if you see me slackin' you can blame that guy :D).
TOYSREVIL: What is that one single word you would use to describe what you expect in 2013?
BRYAN LIE: Enlightenment.
TOYSREVIL: What are you most looking forward to in 2013?
BRYAN LIE: Come on Andy, you want me to pick just ONE thing that I most look forward to in 2013? Talk about impossible. Enterbay is making some great strides with their Django Unchained figs. ThreeA and Hot Toys never fails to drop my jaw. The artists you put on here (ClogTwo, Martin Hsu) are way above my league (Yea I'm humble like that :D) and their stuff always excites me. If I have to name an artist, I have to say Anthony Jones. He's doing a kickstarter project for his book called "Heaven's Hell" that I'm really looking forward to. Here's a pic and be bathed in the awesomeness. Support and pledge, yo!
TOYSREVIL: Are You A Jedi Master or A Sith Lord?
BRYAN LIE: Can I be Han Solo?
TOYSREVIL: Better to Tweet It? or Instagram It? or Facebook It?
BRYAN LIE: To this day i still don't know how to operate tweeter but I just discovered instagram though! They're visual so it's easier for me to understand. You can follow me @foxbossart. Behold my glorious profile pic! :)
And my Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cadmiumredviii.
[Click on above-image to find out more about INARi 1/6]
TOYSREVIL: Describe your own work/art in thirteen words.
BRYAN LIE: Mythical. Culture. Lifestyle. Karmic. Natural. Supernatural. Balance. Man-made. Organic. Philosophy. Sociology. and of course, Fashion.
TOYSREVIL: What should folks look out from you in 2013? And why?
BRYAN LIE: Expect more God Complex reveals! Aside from working in my personal IP, I'm also producing and collaborating with badass artists both undiscovered and established to bring their art to life. The soonest you will see is stuff by Guillaume Menuel aka redbolt (Oh… He only worked on this little game called Assassin's Creed III.............. yea that tellsya how badass he is). So that's something to look out for.
BRYAN LIE: I learned a lot in 2012. In fact, our beginnings was pretty rough. I had to deal with a lot of unpleasantries in 2012 but you know, we had to dig through the mud to get to the gold right? While there is always so much more to dig, I have to say I'm starting to find the gold :)
TOYSREVIL: What is that ONE word you hope to achieve for yourself by the end of 2013?
BRYAN LIE: Benevolence.
[Click in image above to find out more about the Thailand Toy Expo-exclusive edition Inari JIN]
TOYSREVIL: Okay this is more of a challenge: Draw A Self Portrait With You As A "Snake" - interpret what you may!
BRYAN LIE: Fun facts about snake: They were a symbol of wisdom and earthly knowledge until christian bible gave them a bad rep.
Thailand Toy Expo Schedule - January 11, 2013:
- Signing Session with Foxbox Studio: Bryan Lie at 2pm
- Interview at 6pm
