Art is general term for a product deliberately created by a person with the intent of stimulating thoughts and emotions. A toy is an object that one plays with. Thought and emotion pretty much go hand in hand with playing. Playing is a creative action, and thusly requires thought. That being said, any toy created by any given human can be thought of as art, regardless of skill level or how limited in run it may be. I just think the types of toys that we collect here have a bit more personality, as there is more of a direct connection between the finished product and the artist. Whereas, the guy who designed the new Spiderman figure for Hasbro, although still an artist in the sense of the word, probably does not have that same personal connection to the completed figure. That's his job, to create something by the standards of his employer. But I bet Rich put more blood, sweat, and tears into the Ollie than he did into that Spiderman. It's 100% his own. It doesn't matter if this demographic over here thinks that something is "art", or that other demographic over there thinks it's "just a toy". I think it has more to do with the creator's intent. And so I'd vote both.
art. toy. art toy. doesn't matter. everyone calls them toys. collectors and non-collectors especially.
Art ...... It's like the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is no right or wrong answer, and each person will see these differently. Not all art is art, not all toys are toys. There is no definitive answer in this argument. Make of it what you think it is.
Both then... This question is actually kinda what drew me into these things to begin with, they are toys AND art. Eye of the beholder is the best answer.
Why is dolly's not an option? Can I change my vote to Dolly's? I voted for toy. Yeah, the guys that makes them are artists, but they are using toys as the medium... That sounds way to pretentious... If I can make a part of the body smash something or make "pew pew" noises, it's a toy.
I'll settle for "Objects Created in Appreciation of the Art of Toys" since these things are neither art, nor toys, yet are created by artists who properly understand and appreciate toys. Big help, right?
tough call . . . . If there was a ‘both’ option i would’ve chosen that. I think most modern sofubi are produced with adult collectors in mind (to be put on shelves or in display cabinets behind glass) the amount of cash a lot of us spend on each figure is way beyond what a child could afford (or what most parents would want to spend on a ‘toy’). Plus the header cards for sofubi are most definitely art !!
This argument generally ends up getting confused. Anything can be "art'" and obviously the vinyl sculpture as a medium can be art. The question is whether or not vinyl toys are GOOD art. And the answer is no. Sooooo I say toys.
I voted toys - because when I survey the scene I definitely think that the majority of items I collect and see discussed here ARE toys - they are fun - they are playable. BUT some of these things we love have so much thought, time and energy poured into them that they are definitely worthy of an art category, and certainly more worthy of that tag than some pieces Ive seen in so-called art shows. Some examples of toys that, for me, cross over into art: Pushead HP's HP Deathra with guts Three tides HP obake dogs Nagballs
I respectfully don't agree, for me many of my 'toys' are "GOOD art" when I look at a King Pepora for instance, I see 'GREAT art' for its medium. And yes they are toys! Edit: I removed the word 'bullshit' which was not necessary.
Is it good art? That's the only discussion more annoying and endless than is it art... I do agree they are toys, I just don't think the two terms are mutually exclusive. As for the everything is designed argument, I find it to be nonsense. Yes everything is designed but most of it poorly. The object being designed also places preconceived notions and physical attributes. A toaster must be able to make toast, or it's not a god damn toaster. Since 99% of all toasters are rectangular or square there is one more defined characteristic. Has to have the working pieces hidden inside for both fire and electrical safety. No need getting sued. So at the end of the day said toaster designer decides height, width, color, material, trim. While if you were stretching, you could attempt to make the same argument about toys, please don't. Toys can be damn near anything and only manufacturing techniques, cost and creativity impose any boundaries. Since a toy designer/artist/what the hell ever is working with a blank canvas, creativity and vision is paramount. It also leads to near infinite diversity (even if it isn't always utilized), there is one toy that is a damn stick with eyeballs! Clearly toy creation, especially when creating new IP's and not making a toy to fit an existing story or character, is far more demanding from an artistic stand point than toaster design. Also, since I can already sense someone typing it, yes you COULD create a really unique and artistic toaster. It would still be the exception to the rule as most toasters are not going this route.
What exactly are we being asked to consider? If the discussion includes vintage then the answer has to be toys. If not...
i honestly don't remember. i was pretty hammered. rum is not my friend. i may have to undo the automatic log in feature on all message boards that i frequent. because at the point i was at, i probably would not have been able to remember my password. my new years resolution: no more toy board posting when finishing off a night of heavy drinking...
What got me into this was wanting to learn about making toys from scratch in Japan before I ever knew about this Skullbrain scene, then I got hooked on collecting some of this stuff after walking through Japan town in San Francisco one day and finding super 7 (its now on Haight St.) where I bought my first Mutant Head. Yes I agree with everyone, its toys, but without 'artists' they would not exist. Making a blanket statement that vinyl toys are not 'GOOD art' is simply ridiculous and I am willing to put myself on the line to state this openly.
After visiting a few museums of modern art, I can definitively say they are more art than many of some shit you can see there. I do consider the creators as amazing artists and I see my toys as art pieces. But I definitively call them toys.
I base my opinion on the intent of the creator. Most of these, as far as I know, are created to be toys (even if they're "collectible" toys for adults.) There is still artistic skill and merit going on, that doesn't take any of that away, but they are intended, as far as I've ever been able to tell, to be toys created in mass (even a run of 10) for sale to the public. So they're toys. SOME though are made to be "art" such as 1 offs/HP's/customs, whatever word you're comfortable with using. They're sold at art shows/galleries at marked up prices. The intent, it would seem, would be to be art. Those can stand off on their own. That's pretty much how I've always seen it. No big argument, no big deal.
