The MadL is not my favorite design of all designer toys.  However, Phu’s signature copper or any retired metal theme goes so well with the MadL platform.  On top of the rusted colorway, this MadL also features Phu’s futuristic soldier concept.  What I’d like to know is when Phu will work on another Boba or Jango Fett dunny.

Image Source: Joy Engine

Here’s a peek at Optikmass’s piece for the 16″ Qee show at the APW Gallery this coming weekend.  For those that are going to be near the LES on June 28th, come out and see this beautiful piece along with all the other submissions.  Personally, I’d like to ask Danny Roldan of Optikmass how he came up with this concept.

There hasn’t been a custom vinyl toy that Pocketwookie made that I don’t sweat.  This Bax Bear as stated by Pocketwookie was inspired by eating a bag of doritos.  Hence the name, “Snack Time”.  Whats also interesting is the character itself is a wookie.  Very clever.  I’m not sure if this 8″ Bax Bear is spoken for, but I’d be interested.

Image Source: i love dragonfly

Towards the middle of month, its like a scheduled task that I venture off to the Kidrobot forum. For the month of June, two releases piqued my interest. First we have French graf artist, Mist’s 3 inch series labeled Debilz. The collection consists of 11 pieces plus a chase figure. Next, we have the fourth installment of the DIY Munnys. Color ways once again include white, black and glow in the dark. But the random accessories are what sets the 4th series apart. This time around, you could score a toupee, cape or goatee on your DIY Munny. The Mist 3 inch series figures will be released on June 12th at $7.95 each. And the DIY Munny will be available the week after for $24.95. With the new accessories, I may finally give into customizing my own Munny. Make the leap to see Munny Series 4.

Image Source: Kidrobot

Many thanks to Anna of Gallery Hanahou, I was offered a chance to meet Sebastien Roux aka SUPERDEUX this past Thursday. Who in fact is SUPERDEUX? Read the below bio as provided by Gallery Hanahou. If you like what you read, make the leap for a quick recap of our chit chat and some pics.

About SUPERDEUX www.superdeux.com

SUPERDEUX, aka Sebastien Roux, was born and raised in the south of France, worked and studied in Paris, and currently resides in Lille, France.

With his distinctive brand of lifestyle art, SUPERDEUX has spent the past ten years hopping the gap between the art and commercial worlds, producing slick motion graphics, funky characters, and pop-tastic logos for major brands such as MTV and Sony, while at the same time developing his own popular series of vinyl toys and drawing crowds to gallery shows across Europe.

SUPERDEUX’s work has been featured in books and magazines in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, the US, Canada, and he has worked in collaboration with talented forces including Phunk Studio, 123Klan, Stardust, Genevieve Gauckler, Bill Mc Mullen, Staple Design, Interspectacular and Pictoplasma to pursue his goal of exploring various mediums of communicating his particular urban sensibility.

Exhibits:
“ACID” solo show at Artoys (Lyon, 2007)
“Pop’n Flop’n” at La Condition Publique (Roubaix, 2006)
“Make feet beautiful” at the Artazart Gallery (Paris, 2005)
“Tag the System PARIS” Espace Beaurepaire (Paris, 2005)
“PAPERBAG” at the Madame Edgar Gallery (Montreal, 2005)
“Stickerthrow!” at the KCDC skate shop/gallery (NY, 2005)
“Tag the System NYC” at the Showroom (NY, 2005)

Featured In:
Books: Mascotte 2 by Delicatessen (Happy Book, 2006), Vinyl Will Kill by Jeremyville (IDN, 2004), Logos Around Europe (Index Book Publishing, 2004), Pictoplasma Books 1 & 2 (DGV 2002, 2004)
Magazines: IDN Magazine, Computer Arts, MUSE, BUTTER, Playtimes, Territory Mag, and more

Image/text Source: Gallery Hanahou

So tell me about your brand, SUPERDEUX. How did the name come about?
Back in 1999, I was into grafitti. I was a grafitti artist and I was using the number 2 often. Deux in French means 2. Therefore SUPERDEUX.

How did you get started in urban vinyl? Was it through working with Tristan Eaton?
No, I was actually doing vinyl toys way before that. One day we were talking, Tristan was working with Kidrobot at the time. I contact him, we exchanged email and started from there.

With the Kidrobot Dunnys, I’ve noticed some artists have their work featured numerous times whether its a numeric series, a specialized themed series or an 8 inch. How does that work? Do you get invited by Kidrobot or do you propose an idea for the on-going work?
The client, Kidrobot, would invite me.

Your recent French series release is quite appealing. Actually, I’d like to point out a certain member on the Kidrobot forum, djkrush, is trying to amass an army of your SUPERDEUX dunnys. I believe he has 50 or so now. As an on/off collector myself, I notice this is a trend within each series. With yours being a fan favorite, would you be willing to do an 8 inch of the recent French release?
Yeah, I would like that. I will talk to Paul about that.

By the way, the 123Klan Dunny looks very similar to yours. Did you have any influence?
Yes, the 123Klan Dunny was a collaboration effort. (For those of you that attended the show, you could’ve met Klor. She’s one half of 123Klan).

I read music is a big influence on your artwork… is there a particular genre?
Yeah a lot. I’m more into electro music… Ed Banger Records. Artists such as Kavinsky.

Oh Kavinsky! I saw him at Coney Island along with SebastiAn and the Rapture opening up for Daft Punk. That was a such a great show. Do you see yourself doing a collaboration with Ed Banger Records anytime in the future?
I’m actually doing a collaboration with Arcade Mode. They are close with Ed Banger. But Pedro (Busy P of Ed Banger Records) has his own vision on toys and he is working with Medicom mostly. Therefore, a collaboration with Ed Banger Records is not possible.

Sebastien, my last question to you is do you have any advice for new and upcoming artists?
Develop a concept and really dig deep into it. Think of everything you can do with your character design. And if its a good toy, you can end up with a good t-shirt. From there it can become a pattern for a clothing line and so forth. The possibilities are endless once you have developed that concept.

Thank you very much for your time Sebastien.

The last time I featured Pocketwookie was when he did the Cereal series Munnys. Back then, I was already impressed by his work. Recently, I checked up on Albotas and see the artist has created another two food inspired munny series. One is called Tasty Treats and the other, Mini Munny Pops. These two series seriously blows me away with the packaging and how delectable they look. Make the leap to the back side to see more pics.

Image Source: Albotas via Pocketwookie

For those of you that copped the French Series Dunnys today, you’re probably familiar with Sebastien Roux aka SUPERDEUX. Next Thursday, February 28, you’ll have a chance to meet him if you come out to Gallery Hanahou in Soho. Gallery Hanahou will be curating his first solo show in America entitled, My World is Flat. And if you happen to miss the opening reception, you can always stop by anytime before April 2nd. Don’t miss out on this event. It’s not often that SUPERDEUX has a show outside of France. More specific info can be found on the back as provided by Gallery Hanahou.

Image/info Source: Gallery Hanahou

Gallery Hanahou
611 Broadway, Suite 730
NYC 10012
646.486.6586
info@galleryhanahou.com

MY WORLD IS FLAT
selected works by SUPERDEUX February 28 – April 2 2008
** opening reception **
February 28, 6-9pm Pop-character artist SUPERDEUX makes a super splash with MY WORLD IS FLAT, his first solo show in New York!

There is nothing 2-D about this multi-media exhibit, which will feature custom editions of the artist’s popular STEREOTYPE toy series, along with limited-edition prints, wall stickers, plush cushions and other new work!

SUPERDEUX himself will be flying in for the opening on the 28th – come join us!

I never caught onto to the Toy2R Bart series of 3 inch qee toys. But I’m really feeling the 2nd wave of Simpsons Mania Qees. The star of this series is none other than Homer. There are twelve designs in total and they come out in May. I’m most certain they’ll be hitting the shelves of Urban Outfitters around that timeframe.

Image Source: TOYSREVILILIKETOYS via Previews

When it comes to art nowadays, the medium bares no boundaries. Optikmass is a visual communications and design studio. They also produce urban vinyl art. With that said, the above image is the efforts of Danny Roldan of Optikmass. Danny actually sent me several pics of two visually stunning munnys. One goes by the name Taura and another, Kokoro. Of the two, Kokoro has a “character” feel to it. Although, both have complex fractal shapes, I can’t help but think of mushi matter from the anime, Mushi Shi. Make the leap to the back for more images. And if you’re interested in commission work, please feel free to contact Danny. Image Source: Optikmass

It’s been awhile since I checked Kidrobot’s custom toy forum. Above is Okedoki’s take on Tim Tsui’s Da Minci figure. As always, Tam aka Okedoki’s work is well executed. Make the leap to see another shot.

Image Source: Kidrobot