KOJUN is Weapon X, latest Hot Toys sculptor!

[Ultramanimator]

As glad as I am we have work from them, it almost seems a waste of such talent, you're capable of that and it's primary use is collectible toys. Maybe there's not much else out there for heavy ammounts of sculpting, just seems like these guys could be producing museum stuff or higher profile pieces, certainly worthy of it.

I don't think this is a waste of talent at all. I think these guys are sculpting toys, because they REALLY love sculpting toys. I believe any of them could do "fine art" sculpture or film work, but they have a great love for the collectibles industry.

Not only are millions of people seeing their work, these guys are actually getting credit for it. Ask Chris Howes how many time he's gotten featured credit on a mass produced toy. Hasbro, Mattel, etc. certainly never give credit to their artists. Most of these guys have been anonymous for years. I think it's great that companies like Hot Toys and Enterbay treat their artists with respect and recognition.

And because these guys are getting credit for their amazing work it can lead to gallery or film work. I was recently speaking with Jordu Schell and he was flipping out over Andy Bergholtz work, so people do notice.

I'm a working artist myself and find a great deal of inspiration from people like Andy, Trevor, Yulli, YJ Park, Chris Howes, Kojun etc. I put their work on my drawing table and look at it every now and then to push my own work.

 

[noisetrigger]

What are some of you guys talking about? His Jack Sparrow is freaking AMAZING!!! It is the expression that HT should have chosen for their AWE Jack. Kojun's sparrow with the slight smirk really nailed the whole character. HT is still excellent but the choice of expression is just not a very iconic one.

It is easily on par with Yulli's Cannibal Jack sculpt because that one captured an even more complicated but really iconic expression.

 

[pixletwin]

...in a big art museum, they're far more likely to have a broader group see their talent. It's always nice to have your gifts noticed by a broader group.

You honestly think a museum exhibit is going to get them more exposure than having each piece of your work reproduced in tens of thousands of people's homes and business offices?

Not sure how you are figuring that.

 

[kazukijun]

Two HK companies armed with Korean Sculptors in a death match!!!

The next thing you know, Medicom may be armed with a korean sculptor too.....(haha but I think this is highly unlikely)

Ultramanimator - I do agree with what you have said. In the past, nobody ever knew who sculpted or designed our toys. I wonder if those toy designers or sculptors ever got any other credit other than what the toy companies paid them to do for.

Being appreciated for what you do is something that monetary rewards can't compare to. I'm not an artist but I've had similar experience where the thanks I got from ppl meant more that the money received.

 

[galactiboy]

The next thing you know, Medicom may be armed with a korean sculptor too.....(haha but I think this is highly unlikely)

Well, I'm sure there are bad Korean sculptors as well

But I will agree... a lot of time the paint work is a big factor in how these turn out. So far the Enterbay Bauer is probably the best production work I've ever seen.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

Wow...Kojun eh. VERY cool and exciting news!!

 

[MaulFan]

You honestly think a museum exhibit is going to get them more exposure than having each piece of your work reproduced in tens of thousands of people's homes and business offices?

Not sure how you are figuring that.

Well, maybe not a broader in numbers sense, but like variety of viewers. Like I have friends that really couldn't give a ^^^^ about the stuff I buy, but they like to go to museums and stuff, and a sculptural piece by Trev would catch their attention there where Old Ben gets laughed at for being a "toy", maybe it's just because of the attitudes I get from people about the things I buy, it doesn't get much respect because of what it is, regardless of how well it might be made. If these guys made pieces that were promoted as artwork and not collectibles, non-collectors might stop to see and appreciate their talents.

I'm sure they're all happy with what they do, I just have such an admiration for what they're capable of, especially when I've tried myself and tasted the challenge, I just feel like it would be cool if the whole world could see and appreciate what they're capable of.

 

[saintsyn]

Well, maybe not a broader in numbers sense, but like variety of viewers. Like I have friends that really couldn't give a ^^^^ about the stuff I buy, but they like to go to museums and stuff, and a sculptural piece by Trev would catch their attention there where Old Ben gets laughed at for being a "toy", maybe it's just because of the attitudes I get from people about the things I buy, it doesn't get much respect because of what it is, regardless of how well it might be made. If these guys made pieces that were promoted as artwork and not collectibles, non-collectors might stop to see and appreciate their talents.

I'm sure they're all happy with what they do, I just have such an admiration for what they're capable of, especially when I've tried myself and tasted the challenge, I just feel like it would be cool if the whole world could see and appreciate what they're capable of.

I understand your point of view, but for me, it's this level of talent that helps me justify shelling out so much money for a "doll". To me, it is bringing home an exceptional work of art that I may not have had a chance to admire and adore on a daily basis. I believe toy sculptors ARE our generations versions of Michaelangelo and DaVinci. Instead of being commissioned for huge pieces for vast sums of money as it was back then, they are making nice money consistently and a smaller yet more widely dispersed scale. Museums still have their place, but for me, all I have to do is gaze in my Detolf to see some real masterworks....

 

[pixletwin]

I thought thats why these weren't toys, that, in fact, they are art.

Well, maybe not a broader in numbers sense, but like variety of viewers.

I dunno, I think you need to redefine your ideals in this regard. I can't imagine a wider "variety of viewers" than the people who already collect these pieces. Really, does something need to be in a museum to be valued as art? I don't think so.

 

[Voorhees27]

I thought thats why these weren't toys, that, in fact, they are art.



I dunno, I think you need to redefine your ideals in this regard. I can't imagine a wider "variety of viewers" than the people who already collect these pieces. Really, does something need to be in a museum to be valued as art? I don't think so.

Well maybe to the rest of the non toy collecting world it is. Maybe outside the toy collecting world all else is considered art, not me and you of course but maybe to the "artistic" world. You know who they are.

 

[pixletwin]

Oh believe, I know who "they" are. They're the people who signed a piece of paper that says I am a bonafide composer.

 

[Devil_666]

As glad as I am we have work from them, it almost seems a waste of such talent, you're capable of that and it's primary use is collectible toys. Maybe there's not much else out there for heavy ammounts of sculpting, just seems like these guys could be producing museum stuff or higher profile pieces, certainly worthy of it.

Talent/success in one area doesn't automatically transfer over into another. You're assuming that since these sculptors are nice with 1/6 scale stuff that they'd automatically be nice with " producing museum stuff or higher profile pieces". Possible. But not guaranteed. Maybe they've tried and failed. Who knows. No offense to any artists out there, but I swear to baby jesus and allah I've seen stuff that I thought was absolute garbage being hailed as genius. Art is subjective. I know people who make no distinction between a toy and a high-end bust/maquette. They see the character and make the conclusion. So for people like that, the setting of a museum wouldn't matter. They'd still see a toy. Not art.

 

[Voorhees27]

Oh believe, I know who "they" are. They're the people who signed a piece of paper that says I am a bonafide composer.

Yeah well I was leaning towards "****** bags" myself.

 

[MaulFan]

Really, does something need to be in a museum to be valued as art? I don't think so.

I don't think so, but I know people I'm friends with or related to all fluff off this stuff as pathetic and pointless and silly, they don't give it any appreciation. With some folks, this type of product has a stigma that doesn't allow them to appreciate the craftsmanship.

Again, it might just be the people I encounter and maybe some of you guys encounter a different mentallity.

I just know among my local peers, if say my Palpatine 1:1 bust was part of some sort of museum display at the Smithsonian or something, they would stop and appreciate the quality of it, but because I paid for it and it sits on my desk, they just see it as a rediculous waste.

 

[pixletwin]

Well that only speaks to how awesome we are and how shallow they are.

 

[mosaicsquare]

wow misleading title i thought this was a preview or announcement about kojun sculpting a hugh jackman wolverine for hot toys

 

[pixletwin]

Whats misleading about the title?

Kojun is Weapon X, latest Hot Toys sculptor!

Seems pretty simple to me?

The only other way you could construe that sentence would be to think it meant Kojun, literally is Weapon X and that he, Kojun, is hot toys latest sculpt. Which if that's what he meant, would be a really atrocious way of expressing it in English. L

 

[Rogue Trooper]

Wicked news, thought i would never be able to own a Kojun sculpt.

 

[mosaicsquare]

Whats misleading about the title?

Kojun is Weapon X, latest Hot Toys sculptor!

Seems pretty simple to me?

The only other way you construe that sentence would be to think it meant Kojun, literally is Weapon X and that he, Kojun, is hot toys latest sculpt. Which if that's what he meant, would be a really atrocious way of expressing it in English. L

holy clusterfutz batman!

 

[pixletwin]

Yup. "Clusterfutz" indeed. That's why your confusion makes no sense. I can't even express in clear English the only way you could have confused the title to mean something else.