REX LEE on #PopToyShowSG
Finally had a chance to meet and connect with Rex Lee (Illustrator for SPACECATS & a Resident Artist for CO PLAY) at the recently concluded POP TOY SHOW SINGAPORE, and I've a video booth tour to share, PLUS a lil'Q&A with the artist! Scroll thru for a read, cheers.
TOYSREVIL: How was your personal impression of the Pop Toy Show SG? Both the good and the bad?
REX LEE: As a toy guru yourself, you're probably more familiar than I am with the renowned POP Mart brand and their events even before this year's show. So stepping into this arena for the first time was truly an eye-opening experience for me. I felt proud that POP Mart was partnering with our local toy retail giant ActionCity to bring their first large-scale toy showcase outside of China into Singapore, and that I could be participating in it as a local artist. I'm truly grateful for this rare opportunity, and I learnt a lot from it.
REX LEE: Judging from the show turnout - from the impressive line-up of participating brands to the throngs of people queueing up daily and the overall sales performance, I think that the marketing outreach for the show has been a huge success. The organisers definitely worked very hard to put everything together - I was witness to some of that when working the ground in preparation for the show. Putting a show like this together, with brands that have such international renown and massive following, is really not easy, and they still managed to make it happen, and they have my respect and gratitude for that.
I think most who visited the show would agree that the response was overwhelming, and with that also came unexpected challenges with crowd control. There were extremely enthusiastic attendees who came from different parts of the world especially for this event, and this being the organisers' first time managing the show here in Singapore, it's understandable how measures had to be constantly evolved to cope with crowd-related situations. Still, it was a good learning experience, and feedback from the ground was helpful. I trust that they are now better prepared for even greater success with the next PTS.
REX LEE: In the larger scheme of things, I value the fact that PTS Singapore is in itself a small contributing step in helping to strengthen Singapore's position not just as a financial but also a media and cultural hub in this region. I'm only an artist, but I cherish this opportunity to contribute what I can through a platform like this, to present, with as much joy and honesty as possible, a collective experience of my life and my work in Singapore.
So in whatever capacity that we're participating, as with most situations in life, we can all take in the good and the bad, and still make the most out of our experiences. I believe that when we focus on generating positive outcomes, we help lift each other, and progress ourselves as a shared humanity :)
TOYSREVIL: What do you think of the toy-buying scene in Singapore?
REX LEE: This year's PTS was a huge eye-opener because it was my first time witnessing the lengths to which toy collectors would go for their private collections. It's heartening to see that successful toy artists are elevated to near-celebrity status today, which signals that toy-buying communities are validating these artists for the talent and dedication they devote to their work. It's also encouraging to see more promising talents rising out of other parts of Asia, since only Japan had been a dominant player in this scene before.
I think, in part due to our bilingual education, financial affluence and easy accessibility to content across the world, Singapore toy buyers are especially adept at trend-spotting and acquiring toys of value, be it for investment or personal collection. Buyers here are generally confident and bold with purchases, and they make informed choices when selecting their buys. Of course, shoppers can be tempted by frivolous purchases too, but the serious collectors actually know what they are on about. I believe we have an informed and reasonably discerning toy buying community here.
TOYSREVIL: What do you think of the toy scene / community here?
REX LEE: Again, haha, I think you're probably more knowledgeable in this area than I am! I collected toys as a youth as an extension of my love for illustration, art and film, but my reasons and choices have also gradually evolved over the years, so I'm probably not as updated with trends in the toy-collecting community today as you are. :)
From an industry perspective, it's inspiring to witness how ActionCity started as a retailer with a simple passion for toys, and rose to a household brand helming a large chain of toy stores and managing sub-brands both locally and abroad today. Other toy retailers here are also keeping their game up, helping to grow the community and adding vibrance to the industry with their curation of quality toys from around the world. The toy-buying community here enjoys the privilege of easy access to a large array of toys that cater to a wide spectrum of collecting needs and wants.
REX LEE: Both retailers and buyers are feeding this bustling scene for sure, and with such growing interest and participation in gaining purchases and knowledge whether through toy conventions, events or travel, it's an exciting industry that will continue to grow alongside the expanding community of toy lovers here. I'm happy because this growth presents unique opportunities for innovation in this sphere of arts, and growing awareness that will consequently support its nurture and blossoming as well.
TOYSREVIL: What do you think was the most popular item in your booth? What resonated with folks the most?
REX LEE: It's hard to pinpoint a specific item but I can mention a few noteworthy ones.
"Meditating Mau" was my first attempt to transform Mau (a character I created in my drawings and stories) into a toy figure. I collaborated with 3D art designer Olga Tonkikh to formulate, sculpt and finally produce the parts that would eventually form the toy. From there, I prepared and treated all the parts by hand, from sanding them to manual assembly and spray-painting, before finally penning my art on each piece. Each sculpture was inked with more than 100,000 dots and strokes from my pen - every piece was a painstaking labour of love. Because of the time it takes to produce each piece, I only brought 5 pieces to the show for sale, as part of an exclusive limited series. All of them were sold by the opening of the second day, and I have pre-orders lined up for delivery by the first quarter of 2024.
REX LEE: My original paintings also generated a lot of interest and enquiries, and I'm both delighted and grateful that a few of them were bought, because while I brought them along for the purpose of showcasing the larger body of my work, I had not expected my original art to be sold at a toy convention! Some mentioned that they recognised my work from press mentions, and some were just drawn because they resonated with the art. Just receiving this validation, and knowing that people saw value in putting my art up on their walls, was very personally fulfilling for me.
REX LEE: I also sold all the copies I brought of "Musings on the Moon", a book I illustrated in collaboration with author Flo-Jo, which was another surprise since the book was not a natural fit at a toy convention. Other smaller items like door tags, postcards and posters with quirky messages alongside my drawings were also quite popular.
REX LEE: Baseball caps also sold well. In between media engagements and other show obligations, I sat at my cosy corner and inked my art on baseball caps that I had produced for the show. People who came by took an interest and started engaging with me, and it gave me a chance to share about the ink medium and my art.
REX LEE: I think ultimately, it is this engagement for which I am most grateful. Of the countless who came to the booth and expressed their goodwill one way or another, the ones who purchased my art and merchandise shared their appreciation for the joy that my art conveyed, as well as the dedication perceived from the detailing in my work. Creating joy has always been a principal motivation behind my work, and it is most rewarding to see the smiles that my work can elicit - this is worth the time and every bit of work I've invested in my art. I am also continually humbled and inspired by those who continue to show unceasing support for artists.
TOYSREVIL: Where can people go to buy your awesomeness? Whether unspoken at PTS for, or your regular items.
REX LEE: Haha, I'm not sure if awesomeness is the appropriate word, but I'm most happy to welcome everyone to visit the MySpaceCats showcase at CO PLAY (Plaza Singapura #03-67-69) for a peek at some of the stuff I get up to. I'm always excited to share my work with ink - it's a humble and often underrated medium, but it can be used to create amazing art, as far as the imagination can take you.
I also have an e-store at www.myspacecats.com where people can purchase my book and other fun stuff like quirky door tags, postcards and posters. I'm still working on bringing more of products online in between my projects.
I work with a team that helps me set up pop-up booths from time to time, and these would usually feature limited-range merchandise like canvas art, wood lifestyle products, T-shirts and tote bags, for example. These events are rare, so I'd post information on my Instagram channel to update followers.
TOYSREVIL: What's next before 2023 ends?
REX LEE: Oh....lots!
In collaboration with CO PLAY and Uniqlo, I'm doing another stint for the #UTME project in October where I will contribute another art exclusive to their T-shirt design collection.
I'm also currently working on customising my art on Bearbrick figures (1000%) that will be unravelled in due time.
REX LEE: By late October, I hope to launch a Kickstarter project featuring a set of playing cards with a new series of artwork featuring Mau and his friends. This is for all who share a love for ink art, playing cards and most importantly....cats!
Preparation is underway for a pop-up booth at The Common Marketplace (4-5 November @ Suntec Convention) where I hope to present a new line-up of limited-range merchandise.
Also very thrilled to be working with Wasuka Gallery at the 16th edition of the Affordable Art Fair (10-12 November @ F1 Pit Building), where I'll be exhibiting some of my original art on canvas through their representation.
Other plans for pre-Christmas events are still in the making :)
TOYSREVIL: Please share with TOYSREVIL readers - Where should people find you?
REX LEE: My Instagram account @my_spacecats is where I'm most active.
Toy/Art/Cat lovers, kindred spirits and fellow Dreamers - I'll be delighted to have you on board!
Best regards
Rex Lee
