I'm guessing this isn't going to be very popular here, but everyone seems to have an opinion about Banksy. It seems that it's officially licensed but it also seems like a lot of money for what it appears to be. People pay good money for Kaws figures and I put this in the same category so who knows what will come of this
I don't think it's licensed, since Banksy's work isn't under any copywrite. Not that it matters, but I highly, HIGHLY doubt he would be a part of something like this.
Those were my thoughts but here's the link that says it's licensed. I still don't get it http://www.toytokyo.com/flower-bomber-b ... 81471cd19a
I think TT may have it wrong. Medicom seems to use their words carefully when they say "inspired by": http://shop.syncstore.jp/products/detail196.html
Actually, medicom is selling it for about $480. Did not check to see if they would ship to the US, but the $220 'fee' is all Toy Tokyo. Moot point cuz I ain't getting it, but TT is true to form - probably adding an additional gouge for shipping.
I get banksy. But this is just flat out dumb. I don't own Kaws toys or collabs of Kaws but I understand them but this is just Yawn. Are you into this stuff..."Brooklyn_Vinyl" or just Dan Rather reporting?
I'm really into street art and I like the performance art aspects of Banksy but to me this doesn't line up with that at all. I wouldn't pay for his prints (even if I could afford them) and I certainly wouldn't pay for this. I respect the opinion of this community and I'm curious what other people's takes are. So I guess it's Dan Rather.
Ehh $400 for something you could essentially do with access to a 3D printer for much less? Seems pricey for pricey's sake. Still fanboys will be all over the hype
Considering it's a Banksy piece I assume someone will grab one then pop out homemade candy colored resin copies for a tenth of the retail price.
I dig Banksy's work but a Polystone statue, ambiguous 'licensing' and a $700 pricetag . . . puhlease!
^ All of this. I highly doubt that this has any connection to being an actual Banksy other than being 'inspired by.' And if he did sign off on this, I highly suspect he is just trolling the entire "toy collectors" market to take the piss; which actually would not be too out of character. Either way, I am just going to sit back and chuckle while people buy these up (you know they will). In the very least it will make Medicom some extra money to keep excellent projects going on their vintage/licensed toys, which is a good thing in my book.
And next will be the Banksy Love Rat for the low, low price of $343. http://toysrevil.blogspot.com/2015/11/b ... m-toy.html It's a shame he's so ridiculously priced. I actually like the rat.
Banksy is making money off this for sure. 'Inspired by Banksy" just means he takes no credit if it sucks. Medicom licenses dface, stash, Warhol,pollack,, etc.. I'm sure they wouldn't do a deal and risk litigation. Who do you think owns the company brandalism who is collaborating with medicom then?
I like some of Banksy's work. I find him to be pretty clever. I don't think his work translates well in a toy/statue medium. I don't begrudge him making a living off his work tho either. $700 is pretty nuts for what this is. But it wouldn't surprise me if someone from Medicom contacted him (or his people), he (they) threw out a figure for shits and giggles and they (Medicom) said "Yes." Maybe Kaws is representing his properties now
Weird, Banksy doesn't need to partner with Medicom and make limited 400 dollar sculptures that are promoted through toy feeds and blogs Banksy is a master of self promotion. If Banksy wanted to make sculptures he could sell them through galleries for 10s of thousands of dollars. This is worse than that fucking Flab Slab company who make a living making bootleg Kaws resins, at least they are a little more upfront their figures are knock offs.
I enjoy Banksy's work, I own a few of his books and find him to be generally amusing. But this is straight doo-doo. I don't really care about the politics of it, whether licensed or not. It's just doo-doo. Pure and simple.
The sculpt for the "Love Rat" is terrible. It looks more like a hamster than a rat. The limbs also don't look right and when compared side by side with the original piece it just doesn't feel accurate. I'd like to see what these figures look like with the black shading of the original works included, the all white seems jarring to me. These prices don't seem so crazy when you find out how much his work is being auctioned off for. I have plenty more to say about Banksy but nothing positive so I'll just end my comment here.