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takashi murakami prints in Australia

Mr Maria Smiley Lamp and Takashi Murakami

Why is Takashi Murakami so Popular?

Takashi Murakami is a Japanese contemporary artist who works in fine arts media and commercial fashion, merchandise, and animation.

Murakami’s art encompasses a wide range of media and is generally described as ‘superflat’. Takashi coined the term ‘superflat’ which in essence describes the aesthetic characteristics of the Japanese artistic tradition and nature of the post-war Japanese culture and society.

Murakami’s art is distinct for its use of colour and motifs from Japanese traditional and popular culture. His work can be described as either cute or satirical and among his work, the most famous are his smiling flowers.

A reason for Takashi Murakami’s popularity is that his art successfully blurs that art lines between high and low culture. This is visible in his Murakami Flower which finds its origins in traditional Japanese painting. Moreover, Takashi Murakami has demonstrated the ability of fine artists to be as successful with commercial artists as well as being able to collaborate with well-known and iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton

Where to buy Takashi Murakami Print collectibles?

For any Takashi Murakami Collectibles, you can find them at X-playground. Get your collection started today!

Who is Mr Maria?

Mr. Maria is a designer who has created the iconic Miffy Lamps which are wanted all over the world. Miffy is the world-famous Dutch rabbit created by artist Dick Bruna. The popular kids television show creates a sense of familiarity, warmth, belonging, and love as Miffy’s friendly demeanor is adored and loved by all children.

With a vision of trying to create optimism, happiness, and laughter in this world, Mr. Maria has also designed the Mr Maria Smiley Lamp. The Mr Maria Smiley lamp designed by Mr Maria is undoubtedly the lamp that will put a smile on your face any time of the day. People of any age will smile involuntarily when the big smile.

The LED bulb of Mr Maria Smiley Lamp is designed to emit a warm glow with different adjustable lighting settings that can warm you up or illuminate a room. A smiley face commonly seen as an icon, brand, or lifestyle has become a spiritual philosophy that exists to remind people the power of smiling. A simple smile can change many lives, especially the people around you and yourself to a significant extent.

mr maria smiley lamp in Australia

Where to buy Mr Maria Smiley Lamp?

Looking for a Mr Maria Smiley lamp to brighten your day or anything by Mr Maria, at X-playground we have the latest assortment of collectible lamps that will brighten and warm your day.

Designer Art Toys

What Are Designer Art Toys and Why Are They Popular?

What Are Designer Art Toys?

Trending with the same popularity and hype as streetwear, designer toys more commonly referred to as art toys are collectible toys inspired by artists or designers. These toys are generally either self-produced or made by small and independent toy companies. Materials used in the toys are varied ranging from ABS plastic, vinyl wood, metal, latex, plush, resin and more. Majority of the creators have background education in graphic design, illustration or arts, but the most accomplished of them all are actually self-taught. It is widely believed that designer art toys first originated in the 1990’s in Hong Kong and Japan. By the 2000’s designer toys quickly became integrated in Western culture where many designer art toys were inspired from Lowbrow artists.

Most designer art toys were produced in China, however due to the ease of access of higher quality materials in Japan, some designers have shifted their production to the land of the rising sun. Designer art toys are usually not manufactured in America due to many environmental restrictions due to the production of vinyl.

Types of Designer Art Toys

Urban Vinyl

Urban vinyl designer art toys feature action figures which are usually made of vinyl. Whilst urban vinyl can be used interchangeably with designer art toys, not all designer art toys can be considered urban vinyl. In general, urban vinyl figures usually have original designs, produced in small quantities, and usually collected by adults. Urban toy designers focus their art primarily on an urban environment such as hip-hop, rap, graffiti or anything related to an urban environment.

Urban vinyl figures are designed primarily by illustrators, graffiti artists, musicians, and DJs from urban areas in Asia (especially Japan and Hong Kong), North America (especially the United States), and Europe.

Credited as the “Godfather of designer toys” Michael Lau and artist Eric So are widely believed to be the two to have initiated the urban vinyl trend in the 1990s. Early designer toy creators include New York artist Ron English.

Urban vinyl is commonly designated as either Eastern Vinyl, including anything designed and produced in Asia or Australia, or Western Vinyl, encompassing pieces which are designed and produced in North America, South America, or Europe. Urban vinyl figures have become collectible items. Rare pieces may sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars

Resin Toys

Some artists create their toys using synthetic resin material and resin casting. After casting the resin toy receives adjustments in its details, sometimes being superficially cast on some parts. The toy can be finished using automotive paint by aerosol and sometimes receives a varnished layer above the dry painting.

The process of making resin toys is more labor-intensive and time-consuming than industrialized vinyl toy production, which in most of cases are made identical and in large quantities. But resin casting allows artists to produce toys in small numbers. Most vinyl factories will only produce toys in large series. Resin toys have become a way for less established artists to produce a toy without the large financial investment required to produce a vinyl toy.

Designer Plush

Designer plush are another subcategory of designer art toys. They tend to be soft, stuffed dolls created in limited quantities by artists and designers. Common designs include anthropomorphized animals or fantastic human likenesses, although designer plush dolls often feature entirely unique character designs. Designer plush dolls are usually given names and personas, with their distinctive personalities described on their tags or in booklets included in their packaging.

One producer of designer plush is Friends With You, a commercial art and design collective based in Miami, Florida. Their work is characterized by a cute yet bizarre aesthetic, and exhibits a hand-made quality, even in pieces that are machine-made. In addition to their plush dolls, Friends With You also create modular wood toys, and motion graphics for companies such as Sony, MTV, Nike, and Columbia Records.

Why Are Designer Art Toys Popular?

Collectible toys have become extremely popular worldwide, as toymakers explore a seamless integration of physical and digital play to succeed in a technology-driven marketplace. This phenomenon is also driven by factors like creative concepts from toy artists, limited availability of toys, quality craftsmanship, and good marketing strategies made by toy manufacturers worldwide.

As toy collecting incorporates adults as well as children, many toymakers have successfully widened the age range of their target consumers. It is also widely accepted that these collectible art toys are a form of art. Artists like KAWS, for instance, are now selling their works for millions of dollars in major art auctions.

Catering to the preferences of consumers desiring quality, limited and unique collectibles, the toymaker industry has seen a considerable change in the industry. In an aesthetic sense, the growing demand for customised, limited edition designer collectibles has also motivated artists to create unique and visually striking concepts across various size categories.

The toy market has propelled itself into mainstream popularity, and this can be seen by the number of smaller companies popping up all over the world. The size, colours, and craftsmanship are some of the reasons why designer toys are so popular. Younger generations flock to these types of collectible toys. That is partly because of the amount of effort that has gone into each one. Each collectible has been carefully designed to create a beautiful toy. In some cases, they have even been painted by hand, giving it the extra human touch and exclusivity.

Often, the designer toys are part of a collection. This is true for the case of blind boxes, as with other renowned sets such as the XXRAY or Funko. In this case, many consumers will be driven by a desire to complete the collection. However, there will only be a limited number of stocks available to complete the collection.

Where to Buy Designer Art Toys?

At X-playground we pride ourselves in providing quality, limited, unique and official designer art toys created and inspired by artists. What are you waiting for, expand your collection now and show off your collectibles to your friends here at x-playground!

white Stormtrooper star war bearbrick australia

Best start of Medicom Bearbrick Toy

Medicom Toy, founded in 1996, is a Japanese brand that specializes in making collectable toys and action figures. Medicom Toy’s goal was to make collectable works of art rather than traditional toys, hence its items were offered in limited quantities. The Bearbrick series, a collection of bear-shaped figurines imprinted with various patterns, is their most popular line of toys. Today, the ‘Bear’ is as much a fashion symbol as it is an artistic one. It’s a clever design that combines the simplicity of a plastic toy with the aesthetic impressionability of modern art and dynamic luxury fashion.

 

What is Medicom Bearbrick Toy?

Medicom Bearbrick is a one-of-a-kind vinyl toy that has been a highly sought-after collectible since its initial introduction roughly 21 years ago. Despite being a basic plastic toy, it has been embraced by some of the world’s largest fashion firms and designers to exhibit their latest concepts and initiatives. Despite its low cost, the plastic bear-shaped figurine is quite desirable to collectors.

Bearbrick is available in a variety of sizes. The standard one is 70mm tall, often known as 100% on the size scale. Bearbricks size 35mm, or 50%, are commonly offered as keychains. Larger sizes include 280 mm (400%) and 700 mm (1000%), the latter being the biggest Bearbrick size available. The 400% and 1000% sizes are preferred by the majority of collectors. Vinyl toys are little more than basic plastic figures, yet they have completely changed the toy market.

The Bearbrick’s strength is that it does not identify with any particular brand or point of view. With each new cooperation, the toy is introduced to a new generation of collectors.

From the contactor who used worked for the brand Bearbrick, even Medicom’s business strategy, which has resulted in decades of success, is little more than a blank piece of paper. “They fire from the hip,” Staple explains. The Bearbrick’s fascination was akin to that of bags, belts, and other minor accessories like keychains and phone covers for both fashion houses and streetwear labels. The toys enabled them to reach a completely new, generally younger, audience.

Which personalities have had connections to Bearbrick?

Upon its first release, Medicom Toy Australia collaborated with Tokyo’s record store HMV to create a one of a kind Bearbrick. It was their first time working together. Since then, the business has produced special editions of the toy to commemorate holidays such as Halloween and Christmas, as well as cartoon and comic characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Avengers, and Star Wars. Medicom Toy collaborated with Chanel, Nike, X-Large, Hermès, Comme Des Garçons, Bape, CLOT, Levis, Stüssy, and Undercover, among other major fashion and streetwear labels, for special Bearbrick releases.

Why Bearbricks are so exclusive?

A Bearbrick toy is like a blank canvas, over there anyone may design whatever they like. Consider a video game in which you may outfit your favourite character whatever you like. Bearbrick is similar to that.

The prominent names that have cooperated on Bearbrick toys have released their designs. These are in addition to the standard Bearbrick toys.

In general, Regular Bearbrick collectables might be considered as “basic” or “normal” toys. Bearbricks in this category are part of a set series made to mimic a horror or science fiction figure, a hero, an animal, a general pattern, a flag, or simply a cute-looking figurine.

The “secret” series, on the other hand, comprises highly uncommon Bearbrick themes. Above all, Bearbricks are not intended for sale, however, for marketing purposes are much harder to get one.

Because of the variety of design elements, each Bearbrick edition is unique. Because of these characteristics, Bearbrick has become a trophy sought for by many but owned by few.

Medicom Bearbrick Toys

The Yue Minjun ‘Qiu Tu’ 1000 percent Bearbrick, launched in 2008, This Bearbrick is the most expensive Bearbrick ever sold until now, the price is GBP 126,000. The KAWS blue bear-shaped ‘Chomper’ edition, with the artist’s characteristic ‘X’ mark on the eyes, is one of the most immediately recognisable Bearbricks. Here are some of the Medicom Bearbrick toys used in Australia and liked by most of the people and children:

Pac-Man Bearbrick

Medicom Toy Pays Tribute to Retro Gaming The toymaker has tapped ’80s gem, PAC-MAN, for the creation of its iconic silhouette with ‘PAC-MAN’ bearbrick.

The statue has a glossy black base and is adorned with pictures of old PAC-MAN motifs portraying the retro game screen. A print of the scoreboard, along with the life count, begins at the top of the figure, and is supplemented with a short sequence of Pac-Man approaching a red ghost at the eyes.

The bearbrick’s body is decorated with the maze from the game, with four ghosts seeking for Pac-Man moments before it swallows an orange.

Medicom Toys Swarovski Crystals Adorned Hello Kitty Bearbrick

Medicom Toy has added a glittering new Bearbrick to its portfolio, with a sparkly Hello Kitty figurine among the new possibilities. The design is adorned with Swarovski crystal decorations all over for a luxurious touch on the famous toy.

The Hello Kitty figurine is available in 400 % scale and is dressed in a blue jumpsuit with her distinctive red hair bow. To top it off, her little whiskers and dark eyes create contrast to the sparkling piece.

How to start your Collection?

Bearbricks are introduced in Series and Types. There are four Types in each Series. The current version is SERIES 42. Bearbricks may be browsed by year and size on the official website. You may select 2001 from the drop-down menu and choose from the numerous that were released at the time.

There are several unique versions in the 2021 releases, such as the textile sculpture inspired Anne Valerie Dupond Bearbrick and the translucent Jimmy Choo one with a light bulb inside.

Lightning McQueen, the hero of the Disney animated feature picture Cars, has his own Bearbrick.

Once a collection is established, there’s a good probability it will grow as more unique Bearbricks come out of Medicom Toy and older ones become rarer figures.

 

 

 

medicom toys from x-playground

5 Things You Should Know About Medicom Toy

Background

Japanese toy company MediCom Toy was founded by Tatsuhiko Akashi in 1996. The brand is becoming more iconic to the popular culture since then and turned collectible figures into a global phenomenon. The cultural significant toy manufacturer has been leading the market to a demarcation of taste and interests. Emphasising on reconstructive different cultures, they use figures and collectables as a medium tap into mainstream pop culture. At the same time, they are very good at marketing.  Every year MediCom throws a highly anticipated exhibition which house their notable original design by renowned artists to the delight of hardcore collectors and laymen alike. Combining a childhood obsession with toys and an adult fixation with collecting limited items, their exhibition entries require an admission lottery, and their exhibition memorial items are sold in limited quantities. You can see their understanding to humanity and popular cultures and know why they can remain their impact in the fast-changing fashion community.

Medicom toy selling from x-playground

Check out BE@RBRICK U.F.O.

Founder

Tatsuhiko Akashi, founder and president of MediCom is not a typical designer. He worked a desk job in computer manufacturing before he started the business. He was inspired by an American toy shop in Shibuya and started to realise his vision to construct a miniature world of marvel.

Products

Shortly after founding MediCom, Akashi found his first hit in the form of a small Lego man-like figure called the Kubrick. The basic Kubrick was developed with a former employee of LEGO. The series name “Kubrick” is additionally a hybridization of “Kyu,” Japanese kanji for the number nine, and the English “Brick.” While nine refers to the number of body parts used in a standard Kubrick figure (head, torso, hips, two arms, two hands, and two legs), brick is a reference to Kubrick’s similarity to Lego Minifigures.

The first Kubrick figures were representations of characters from the manga and anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, released in 2000. Since then, hundreds of Kubricks have been produced. With the popularity of the Kubrick skyrocketing, Akashi unveiled the BE@RBRICK series on May 27th, 2001. The new figure, named BE@RBRICK, was a variation of the Kubrick figure with bear-like features. Interestingly, the only reason the BE@RBRICK is a bear is because the teddy bear was celebrating its 100th anniversary in the year 2000. Even Akashi himself won’t anticipate that the series will turn into a cultural icon that spawned devout fans.

Brands and collaboration

The company has been producing special editions of the toy, marking festivals as well as cartoon and comic characters. They have been partnering with a lot of big names like KAWS, Hermès, Star Wars, Disney, Chanel as well as some hyped streetwear brands like BAPE, CLOT, Undercover and the list continues to grow for sure.

Kaws & Medicom Toy selling from x-playground

Check out BE@RBRICK MACAU 2020 NEIL BARRETT

Influence on popular culture

MediCom has done almost the impossible, by avoiding market research altogether, Akashi creates designs that aren’t bound or limited by trends. His approach to design made his work not just a toy, but an artwork that positions itself in the intersection of art, fashion, culture, and fun that represent pop culture today. The appeal of MediCom Toy has always been in its unpredictability. With the encouragement of Akashi, the MediCom team can create anything they want. Everyone can express themselves through their design. We believe that the brand will continue to produce an endless array of desirable toys with unlimited themes. That is the significance of MediCom Toy.

Purchasing MediCom’s release at X-Playground

MediCom Toy uses the technique of blind box packaging to influence the collectors to trade, buy and sell figures to complete their collections. X-Playground offers 100% authentic MediCom Toy’s products. Shop MediCom’s BE@RBRICK release today at X-Playground!

Mr Maria: Lamps with Temperature

Mr Maria: Lamps with Temperature

Mr Maria from the Netherlands is a lighting brand established in 2006. It was co-founded by designers Jannes Hak and Lennart Bosker. Over the years, it has been committed to designing all kinds of lamps and lanterns full of childhood feelings. Mr Maria, who takes “design for a loving home” as the design tenet, has transformed the familiar cartoon patterns of Miffy, elephants, dogs, etc., into lamps and lanterns. Through the combination of design and cartoon shape, the gap between the product and the heart is shortened, and the healing cute lamps can melt the negative emotions of adults and babies little by little.

Warm companionship of Mr Maria at home

The popular Miffy lamp is the creation of Dutch artist Dick Bruna. It is not only the best-selling children’s book series in the Netherlands but also an internationally known cartoon star. It has accompanied countless children through a wonderful childhood. Miffy’s simple and kind figure style attracts children and evokes the innocence of adults. The successive launches of elephant, dog, and smiley lamp expressions make Mr Maria quickly become the preferred brand of healing lamps. Mr Maria brings familiar cartoon stars into their daily homes and becomes a warm companion in the corner. You can put Mr Maria at the kid’s bedside. It is also an excellent lighting decoration when reading bedtime stories. Put it in the living room at home, it can also quietly play the function of healing thoughts.

Miffy lamps by Mr Maria

Morning greeting from Miffy lamps by Mr Maria

In 1955, Dick Bruna was on a family vacation. He was strolling along the north coast of Rotterdam and met a little hare running and standing in front of him. Suddenly, a pair of eyes triggered a playful and cute idea, and Miffy was born.

The lovely Miffy lamp has a built-in LED light source and recyclable PE plastic. The light-transmitting white lampshade will not feel hot even if you hug it. There is also a dimmer that can adjust the brightness of the light. The mild colour replaces the dazzling light, reflecting a comfortable atmosphere, even if it is placed in the room as a night light, it will not disturb your sleep. Have a good dream together. When the sun is shining in the room, you open your eyes and find a cute bunny saying good morning to you. This is how a beautiful day begins. Put it in any corner of the house at will, and it will immediately bring you a nice day.

The happiest smile from Mr Maria Smiley Lamp

The happiest smile from Mr Maria Smiley Lamp

The original smiley face of the smiley lamp was designed by Franklin Loufrani in 1971. At that time, it was mainly through newspapers to propagate positive news to the society, so that people who had gone through wars felt happy. Therefore, in a short period of time, the smiley face has become the most well-known symbol in the world.

The Mr Maria Smiley lamp designed by Mr Maria is undoubtedly the happiest lamp so far. People of any age will smile involuntarily when they see it. The smile light has an adjustable and bright LED light, which gives the smile light a beautiful and warm glow to illuminate every room. A smiley face is not just an icon, brand, and lifestyle, it is a spiritual philosophy. It exists to remind people of the power of smiling. A simple smile can change your life and the lives of others around you to a great extent.

Where there is light there are shadows, but there’s no need to fear. The elusive Mr Maria will always be there, keeping a watchful eye on your family shining bright. At X-playground we offer premium Mr Maria lamps. Explore Mr Maria lamps today!

 

x-playground-premium-urban-accessories-and-collectibles-kaws

What is so special about KAWS?

Uniqlo has been open for a long time. It’s not surprising that people line up for several kilometres to buy designer collaboration models. However, on June 3rd people swarmed in before the fence was rolled up to buy KAWS x Uniqlo, which was the first time.

These great rewards for Uniqlo’s rushing behaviours circulated on the Internet are preheated and carefully planned marketing by Uniqlo. This marketing is related to two dolls with “X X” eyes. Many people may not even know their names. The image with “X X” eyes on the top of the head is called BFF, and the image with “X X” eyes on the face is called “COMPANION”.

This is a character created by American trend artist KAWS. In recent years, it has appeared more and more frequently in various places. For example, it turned out in the 2018 Apple conference video “Behind the Mac”, Apple’s outdoor billboard, Changsha International Financial Centre, on the sea surface of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, and on the desk of a colleague.

x-playground offers premium urban accessories and collectibles - exhibition

How to identify the cartoon character with “X X” eyes?

KAWS‘s works mainly include street art, paintings, giant sculptures and toy decorations. In the past few years, he has mainly sold 13 unlimited toys, including 8 COMPANION, 2 BFF, and 3 Small Lie. These humanoid toys use the simple symbol “X X” to represent the eyes, and it is also one of the most important marks in KAWS’s work. KAWS was dominated by street text graffiti in the early days, but in the current stage of artistic creation, he wanted to use a simple form to retain the early style characteristics, so he used the symbol “X”.

Among the three lines, the COMPANION with skull and cross skull is the most widely spread and the most representative. It is a work inspired by Disney Mickey by KAWS in 1999. Why does COMPANION have no mouth? KAWS’s answer is “I especially don’t want him to talk, so I didn’t give him a mouth.”

The KAWS dolls usually have their heads slightly downwards, with no smile on their staid faces, revealing a strong sense of loneliness. These dolls can express completely different meanings according to different colours, materials, and movements, but they always reveal a sense of loneliness.

x-playground offers premium urban accessories and collectibles - "X X" eyes

An artist with a market value of hundreds of millions of dollars

KAWS, who is only 45 years old this year, still has works sold at a high price of 100 million Hong Kong dollars in his prime, which is not in line with the principle of “scarcity” in economics. But this also reflects from the side the tremendous power created by KAWS through unlimited sales of works, fun traffic marketing, and cross-border cooperation.

To some extent, KAWS has the status of successor to contemporary Andy Warhol in the art world. In the current art market, similar to KAWS, there are two artists, Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami, who have created a market of hundreds of millions of dollars in derivatives other than the original works. When a single piece of KAWS sold for hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars in this year’s Hong Kong Sotheby’s spring auction, two other works by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, “Endless Net #4” and “Pumpkin (TWPOT)” were sold separately, including commissions of 62.4 million and 54.5 million Hong Kong dollars.

These artists are still producing a steady stream of works, co-branding with brands to issue peripheral derivatives, and creating artworks that are affordable for the public. A lot of money has been collected from fans, and at the same time it has created an aesthetic for the society and made some contributions to the aesthetic education of mankind. When artists cooperate more with fashion products and luxury goods, in the end, young people will pursue their works and derivatives as fashion brands. X-Playground provides 100% authenticated KAWS products, where you can buy KAWS figures and other collectibles without any concern. We offer domestic shipping to all orders. Buy your favourite KAWS figures now!