Toy Artists Feature for #CultureCartel2019
Online promotions for this year's Culture Cartel is in full effect (Instagram / Facebook), with reveals and introductions, a few names of which I am focusing on today: (Toy) Artists!
And while folks familiar with the TOYSREVIL-blog will no doubt recognise the artists featured, so this blog-feature will function as a refresher and introduction to the following announced artists: COARSE, LUKE CHUEH, QUICCS and CRYBABY MOLLY! Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Mark Landwehr and Sven Waschk of Los Angeles-based COARSE has the length and breath of collectibles that by far defines the "Art Toy / Designer Toy" genre, in the toy-landscape and scene, period. The distinct marriage of "art" in their contemporary sculptures blends seamlessly with their "design" sensibilities, all of which creates an irresistible aesthetic that helps define a generation of "collectible toys", IMHO.
I certainly hope to be able to see the pieces they have showcased for various conventions this year in-person, beyond the online coverage of images on TOYSREVIL tho!
IDENTIFY THAT TOY: The collectible featured in the @coarselife-image is known as "Jaws – False Paradise" (seen above) - a 18" tall resin sculpture (Edition of 3), released at Shanghai Toy Show 2018 and Thailand Toy Expo 2018 (Featured HERE on TOYSREVIL).
Featured below is a (slideshow) video I'd made of their 2017 gallery show "past / present" at South Korean gallery "Everyday Mooonday". Stay connected to COARSE via their socials: Instagram / Facebook / Twitter.
LUKE CHUEH as a contemporary artist with a catalog of a wide genre of accessibility, including prints, collectibles and publications, in addition to his gallery work.
Recent collectibles include "BOBA" resin sculpts and incoming HELLO LUKEY vinyl toys with FLABSLAB, "Bruised Lee", or the or the Jordans-wearing "Jiangshi" with VTSS Toys, and his releases with Munky King in the U.S., including the infamous Bunny-in-a-bunny-suit "Black in White", "Possessed", and an oft overlooked social awareness-infused piece named "HUNG" - that seems pretty darn relevant in these trying social times of the world, IMHO.
Featured just below is a toy-review video I'd made of HUNG released circa 2015. It has been nearly 5 years since we met, so it would be great to catch up.
IDENTIFY THAT TOY: The sculpt feature on @lukechueh's announcement-image is of a 4-feet tall "1000% POSSESSED" OOAK / one-of-a-kind resin-cast figure made by Munky King, that was made available for a "Grief Encounters" Kickstarter (circa 2017), which in turn is based on Luke's 9-inch tall "Possessed" collectible, whom just celebrated it's 10th anniversary too!
Most of Luke Chueh's toy releases are based off his art / paintings.
Stay connected Luke via his socials @ Instagram / / Twitter, and as well his "Robot and the Bear" Podcast (With Eric Nakamura) on YouTube.
While one can argue The Philippines' Juanito Maiquez AKA QUICCS is "new" to the scene, you cannot deny the explosion of his toy-art, not forgetting the prolific work he has put in for the past few years!
His most recent accolades in the toy-scene includes fan-voted "Toy of the Year" (for Ravager [TEQ]) and Artist of The Year in the 2019 Designer Toy Awards. Besides the toy-scene, Quiccs is as well the Creative Director at Burnwater Design Studios.
IDENTIFY THAT TOY: The images of the four collectibles showcased in @quiccs' image are as follows:
- "Ghost Mode TEQ63" (far-left) and "Core Black TEQ63" (far-left) looks to be a either 12+inches tall vinyl Mega TEQ63, or a 6" tall vinyl figure from Martian Toys(?), rather than his self-produced resins with The Hidden Fortress (?)...
- "Chromed Robotars" (center/left) is a custom one-off from 2012.
- "Ghost of Kurosawa" resin bust (center/right) was released circa 2015 by FLABSLAB.
Besides "toys/collectibles", Quiccs has as well created a interconnected Bulletpunk Universe of character creations - of which "The Tale of Ukami and Hitsuji" is told in the video above, and has as well since been released as collectibles from Kidrobot!
Will we be able to see "exclusives" / new releases of his collectibles? With Devil Toys, Martian Toys, FLABSLAB and his own label The Hidden Fortress? UPDATES & continued coverage via THIS LINK, people!
Stay connected via his socials: Instagram / Facebook / Twitter.
Personally having the chance to meet him in person in 2012 in Thailand, and as well releasing TOYSREVIL-exclusive collectibles with, all the while witnessing his meteoric ascension into the toy-scene, has been and continues to be such a thrill, and honour!
Last but not least in today's feature, is "CRYBABY MOLLY" - the moniker of Thailand-based artist Molly Yllom, owner of the "Molly's Factory" brand, and synonymous with her "Crybaby Molly" figures. She has recently opened her own "Molly’s Factory Studio" gallery space in Bangkok, Thailand. You can follow her toy-exploits via her socials: Instagram and Facebook, and certainly hope to be able to se MORE of her toy-art!
(Molly’s factory studio @ 656/41-42 Soi Klayjinda Prajadhipok Rd, Hirunruchi Thon Buri, Bangkok 10600).
IDENTIFY THAT TOY: The tattooed figure on @crybaby_molly_'s image is of the Sold Out "Naked Brown" edition of the 14cm tall resin "Crybaby" figure (limited to 40pcs), released by Molly's Factory in 2017.
The 2019 Edition of CULTURE CARTEL happens December 6th to 8th December @ F1 Pit Building, Singapore. If you are unsure by now, the 2019 Edition of Singapore Comic Con happens on the exact same weekend (of 7-8th Saturday+Sunday). This is going to be a very interesting weekend to come! Culture Cartel opens til 10pm. Ticketing details on culturecartel.com.
