I have a thing for plastic toys.
I grew up collecting the cereal figures
that are now worth over $40 each for some.
I even have my original collection,
and earned a Brownie badge by showing them.
So when I spotted Paris-based Lucas Mongiello
it struck a deep, nostalgic, childhood chord.
One day, like the bisque dolls of the nineteenth century,
plastic dinosaurs will be treasured.
By casing them in Napoleonic glass domes,
Lucas creates an air of austerity and classic museum
feel about them. It's a bit ironic and funny,
but it also says something about our disposable world.
Did you know that 75% of all toys are made in China?
There is another guy making monuments out of potential landfill too.
Michael Wolfe is a journo living in China,
and he collected over 20,000 toys to make his point.
He was at a thrift store getting a bag of toys for his child,
when the idea struck.
He decided to drive across California,
going to every thrift and charity store he found and get toys.
But they had to be made in China and had to have a face.
Back in his Hong Kong studio each got sanded back,
a magnet applied to them and then installed.
Great idea, so the installation is portable and changeable.
He also photographed the workers in process of making the toys.
images of the exhibition
I struggle with the new bloggy editor, it wont let me format well, so apologies for that.
Pin ItI struggle with the new bloggy editor, it wont let me format well, so apologies for that.
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Oh I wish I kept my cereal box treasures - unfortunately I didn't have the foresight - though I did love them when I was a child.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you back posting too. :)
These are wonderful! Thank you for sharing,
ReplyDeleteVery dramatic. Can imagine his child's confusion though.
ReplyDeleteHa!
ReplyDeleteThe things people see!
The stuff they imagine!
Incwoyable! That's French for incredible.
My daughter used to collect snow domes as a child and has quite a collection, I hope turn out valuable one day.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised it's only 75%! Hope you are well.
ReplyDeleteFabulous, thanks for the lead to some wonderful work. (I like your new banner very much, Grrl). -sus
ReplyDeleteToys are so colorful and vibrant, perfect for making crazy artwork like these. Thanks for sharing. Makes me smile.
ReplyDeletelove the flowers denise and the pic of baxter on your siderbar... truly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteToys... I'd have them, but I'm nomadic.
Great post... off to explore more.
x
love your new floral header, very bright. i also like the Op shop toys idea, i've got a few here, they just hang about the house doing their own thing.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see Baxter's pic on the side, he's smiling.
glad to see you back! the toy post is wild! our nearby thrift always has a ton of such! would you like something???
ReplyDeleteMy love was the little plastic charms that we, here in the US, could get from gum or penny candy machines. My antique-dealer sister has found a few over the years...where did they all go? Love seeing the domed pyramid pile-ups. I imagine your collection was quite badge-worthy. xo
ReplyDeletedid you say a Brownie Badge?! Did you still have that badge by the way, with all the turmoil of being a Brownie, it would be a great valuable. :) Worthy of framing.
ReplyDeletei have a few of these but really love the old metal cast toys my grandmother had, and metal cast cars.
Wow, that's dedication! I used to collect kinder egg toys, but didn't have the foresight to keep them. Unfortunately, they are no doubt still in the depths of a landfill somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting post. My daughter was fascinated with the little plastic animals when she was 3-5 and I kept them, thinking that one day I would display them jumbled up in a tall glass jar. Then I see this post and I feel such an interesting connection. Love it!
ReplyDeleteha funny! I have a series of plastic dinosaurs sitting on my desk in my studio right at this very moment. I felt the urge to paint them, I have no idea why!?
ReplyDeleteI really love the plastic toys encased in the glass domes, so cool!
okay, I haven't read this post yet, but I LOVE that banner!!
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well.
This is really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've been toying with making dolls, but just have a block. I recently sent one out and got no response, so it must have scared her as much as it did me! But I'm wondering if you might want some plastic action figures I have. I thought I might do something with them a la deMeng, but the thought honestly creeps me out.
I wonder what happened to me...?
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ReplyDelete