TOYS: Fools Paradise Shows Off New Pieces at Hong Kong Exhibition

Toy manufacturer Fools Paradise is staging an exhibition of its products and digital paintings at Hong Kong’s SHOUT gallery.

Honmono Taiketsu, named after the brand’s panda character, opens today and features regular and oversized versions of Fools Paradise’s vinyl pieces – such as its Professional/Mario mash-ups and its watch-face Foolex characters.

The exhibition is being used to launch 25 new pieces inspired by characters from The Simpsons, Marvel, Batman, Power Rangers and Bomberman, including its new limited edition Reverse Panda toy which is available to pre-order now, priced $298 USD. The works are supported by printed digital artworks hanging on the gallery walls.

Honmono Taiketsu is being held at SHOUT’s Ocean Terminal gallery in Tsim Sea Tsui until August 17.

Elsewhere in Toys, Mattel announces Space X collection.

DESIGN: SOU FUJIMOTO'S ETHEREAL TOWER OF 99 FLOATING ISLANDS TO SERVE AS SHENZHEN LANDMARK

Renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto has designed a new structure that will be built in the Qianhai district of Shenzhen, China. The ethereal tower is comprised of 99 floating islands, which will serve as a new landmark of the area.

The proposal aims to answer the question of how a tower can evolve while continuing to attract attention. Measuring 268 meters (880 feet) high, the cluster of towers will be constructed to seem like they are floating in the air when viewed from below. The entire structure is held together with a centralized core, which is kept balanced with tension cables throughout. In addition to a viewing platform, the upcoming project will feature a restaurant and cafe.

Take a look at the digital render of Sou Fujimoto’s ethereal tower above and below.

ART: LONDON'S DESIGN MUSEUM INVITES YOU TO LOUNGE ON CHARLOTTE PERRIAND'S FAMOUS CHAIRS

The Design Museum in London just launched an experiential exhibition celebrating the work of French architect Charlotte Perriand.

Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life invites visitors to take an up-close (and we mean up-close) look at the designer’s oeuvre, including her famous chairs for Le Corbusier. Patrons can peruse Perriand’s chaise longue basculante, (rocking lounge chair) fauteuil pivotant (swiveling armchair) and siege à dossier basculante (reclining chair), and even take a seat on the iconic designs– a departure from traditional art exhibitions, visitors can actually touch the works on view. Additional highlights include a recreation of Perriand’s first apartment, a display of her wood work and a collection of the creative’s personal notebooks.

Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life is on view at London’s Design Museum through September 5.

Design Museum
224-238 Kensington High Street
London W8 6AG

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ART: The Brooklyn Museum Highlights Standout Works From KAWS' "WHAT PARTY" Exhibit Spanning everything from the artist’s graffiti origins to his fine art.

KAWS‘ next major exhibition, “WHAT PARTY,” has been foretold for months, but now it’s nearly upon us. Before the Brooklyn Museum opens its doors to (safely) allow in visitors, take an early look at some of the works on display at the career-spanning showcase.

Along with the eponymous CHUM sculpture, there are plenty of other figures and works to peruse, including some of KAWS’ classic advertisement works (like 1997’s UNTITLED (DKNY) and UNTITLED (HARING)) and even early paper sketches showcasing his graffiti flair. More modern pieces feature the Brooklyn-based artist’s signature cartoon character flips, like his SpongeBob riff, KAWSBOB 3, and several KIMPSONS pieces. “WHAT PARTY” even offers a closer look at some of KAWS’ latest efforts, including 2020’s TIDE painting.

The Brooklyn Museum will debut KAWS’ “WHAT PARTY” exhibit on February 26, the same day it launches an accompanying Phaidon monograph.

KAWS:HOLIDAY Brings Its Hot-Air Balloon World Tour to the U.K.//KAWS Unveils New 'SEPARATED' COMPANION Vinyl Figures

Contemporary American artist KAWS, in partnership with Hong Kong creative agency AllRightsReserved, will take his KAWS:HOLIDAY series to the skies in the United Kingdom.

The cultural propeller’s massive inflatable works first appeared at Seokchon Lake in Seoul, South Korea, in 2018 and has since touched down in several international locations including Hong Kong, Taipei, and Virginia Beach. Now at its sixth stop, the KAWS:HOLIDAY series will host passengers in the sky on a hot-air balloon in the United Kingdom before taking off on a world tour at the end of this year.

The sculptural hot-air balloon — one of the world’s largest at 42 meters tall — reimagines the artist’s signature work, COMPANION, in larger-than-life proportions. KAWS first set flight to his flying creation in the hot-air balloon capitol of the United Kingdom: Bristol. Soaring above miles of breathtaking greenery, the colossal inflated character commanded the British skies in its debut, as pictured in the gallery above.

The KAWS:HOLIDAY Hot-Air Balloon World Tour will officially take off in the fourth quarter of 2020. The journey is now open for package inquiry and will accept both flat and cryptocurrency payments via FTX Pay on the DDT webstore.

To celebrate the latest addition to the KAWS:HOLIDAY series, the artist created a series of 12-inch-tall COMPANION collectibles, which arrive in three colorways: brown, grey and black. Additionally, KAWS offers up limited-edition containers in the same figurine construction and a hoodie featuring the series’ signature character surrounded by clouds.

The collectible figurines are priced at $250 USD, while the containers are marked at $890 USD. The hoodie will be sold for $99 USD. Shop the collection on the DDT webtore.After launching special book editions with Phaidon for his “WHAT PARTY” exhibitionat the Brooklyn Museum, KAWS now unveils his latest COMPANION vinyl figure entitled SEPARATED. Standing nearly eight inches tall, the unmissable mascot is featured sitting down with its hands covering its face. The edition arrives in three familiar colorways: grey, black, and brown. 

The figures are launching as part of the museum’s new dedicated online store for the exhibition which also includes WHAT PARTY figures featuring the artist’s recognizable Michelin Man-inspired character called CHUM, the original COMPANION versions, the flayed variants, URGE plate sets of four as well as puzzle sets and apparel to boot.

On view to the public from February 26 through September 5, 2021, “WHAT PARTY” marks the artist’s first physical exhibition since the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 100 original pieces are currently on display, including KAWS’ early-career subvertisements, collaborative works, furniture and monumental sculptures of his iconic characters. Check out the SEPARATED figure above and then head to Brooklyn Museum’s online store for “WHAT PARTY” to check out the full lineup of collectibles and merchandise.