RESEARCH PAPER 1ST DRAFT

HSIN-WEI'S RESEARCH PAPER

ART + TOYS = ?

In my research, I want to focus on one part of subcultureal phenomena. I want to talk about toys. Toys recently have been becoming artworks. Not only their function changing, but also their status. Many toy designers now are like artists, and toys can have their exhibitions in art museums. Now, they also called Art Toys or Design Toys. I like to collect toys, and for me, they are artwork. The toys topic also connects to my painting, I use some toy images in canvas. Besides, I want to introduce the new conception to people who do not understand it. This phenomenon has been happening for five years, so it is still a new topic. I will focus on the changing both of toy design and consumers.

Art Toys have been popular since the early 2000. Provide some specific events/exhibitions/artists. This phenomenon is a part of a subculture trend which includsd urban art, street fashion, alternative comics, music and contemporary art and design. Art Toys appreaded in Tokyo and Hong Kong first, then they became popular throughout all the world.

The design between previous toys and Art Toys is different. In the previous toys, most of them are made for children. The design is focus on the safety and educational development. Also, the materials use cheaper and crude plastic or metal. Besides, the price is cheaper, because of the low coast materials and most parents would not like to buy costly toys for children. However, Art Toys or Design Toys are made not only for childre, but also adults. In stead of safety and educational function, they need unique design and delicately detail. The materials are also important, because better materials can make toys have better quality. The price of Art Toys is high, because they are artistic and valuable.

It is true that design is based on function. The function between previous toys and Art Toys is different. It is clear that Art Toys are not have to be safe and have developmental functions, because they are not made only for children. Some of Art Toys are like statues, they are not movable. Even some Art Toys have arthrosis or joints, they are not totally moveable, and the propose of them is to make some specific poses. Also, Art Toys can be decorations which have the same function as artwork. If toys are not playable, the safety and educational function are not necessary. The designs of Art Toys are focus on the special shape, beautiful colors and details. The way that toys designers make toys is like the way that artists make artwork. They creat shapes, poses, colors and characteristics on toys. Some famous toys designers even show their own style on their toys which make people can discriminate them easily, just like when you see Van Gogh's unique touch, you can tell it is Van Gogh's painting.

Art Toys are more delicated than previous toys. Comparing with the outlooking, size and weight are different. Previous toys usually have small size and light weight, because most of the users are children. In Art Toys, size and weight have no limit, it all depand on the designer's idea. A big Art Toys could be 72cm high, and the weight is about 9 kg. Also, Art Toys have more delicately details than previous toys. In Art Toys, colors are painted carefully, even the edge between two colors is very specific. Some of them have many samll replacement components, which can change the toy's appearance or pose.

The materials are also changing. The common material is vinyl, PVC and ABS, which are kinds of plastic, and they are still popular toy's materials until now. Some old toys are made by tin or superalloy, but at that time, the thchnic was not good, so the toy's shape and movement were limited. However, with the developing of toy's making technic, these problems have seloved.

Although Art Toys are more beautiful amd valuable, they are not stable. Comparing with previous toys, Art Toys are more weak. Having many delicated delitals and components lead to Art Toys cannot suffer impact. Previous toys are very strong, because the users are children, and they need endurable toys.

The changing of consumers is also a reason of Art Toys developing. Before Art Toys appeared, the toys' main user is children. However, after Art Toys created a trend to all the world, toys are not only for children anymore. Young people and adults purchase or collect toys. Art Toys creat a new conception for toys. Toys, which are commercial objects are transformed into art. Some art toys are made depand on comic , movie or animation characters, these toys can make young people and adults have nastagic feeling. Through collecting these toys, people can feel satisfied. Also, art toys have another reason that attract people, they can make fantasy become true. Art Toys can satisfied with young people and adults' imagination, they can make monsters, super heros, robots and animation characters become object which can be touched and exhibited.

Michael Lau

Michael Lau is a famous toy designer from Hong Kong. He was one of the originators of art toys. He created his first art toys in 1999, the "Gardeners", twelve-inch vinyl figures dressed in urban fashions with tattoos, had great success. His art toys included art, toys and fashion, which made collectors saw a new styles of toys and art lovers saw a new mdeium for art representation.

Kaws (US)

Medicom Toy (JP)

As a whole, the tone in this paper sounds very informal. DON’T USE ‘I’s in a research paper. After reading your paper, I came up with some outlines:

1. The purpose of this paper is to show how the functions and status of toys have been changed” and the factors that bring out those changes to the toy industry.)
2. You will explain the buyers and status of current toys.

3. You will discuss the factors: 1. design 2. materials.3. artists who contributed to this kind of change.

( Edited by Sang Kim - original submission Monday, 1 October 2007, 09:50 pm )