Graffiti-clad Tchochkes and the Vinyl Explosion

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We have a new weekly writer! Daniel Klein is a graphic artist whose apartment has been featured in Tchochkes. His design style is really fun. Originally from the US, Dani was an Art Director who has recently gone freelance. His artwork is amazing, BTW. Give him a warm welcome and leave a comment! (A nice one, preferably.) Dani will be posting every Monday. ~ Shira
Dear readers, I am thrilled to kick-off my weekly post on the wonderful world of Tchochkes! You may or may not have picked up on it, but there is a fun art and design trend that has been gaining momentum over the past decade. I’m talking about the vinyl-toy movement—an amalgamation of graffiti artists, designers and limited-edition plastic toys.
The phenomenon originated in China and exploded in Japan, drawing inspiration from pop culture and anime. In the USA, a company called Kidrobot has been at the forefront of popularizing the vinyl-toy culture since 2002, and it is wildly successful. The company collaborates with contemporary street artists to produce collectibles, which are sold for as little as $6. Many of the fabulous tchochkes are actually quite valuable, some having been sold for thousands of dollars. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) acquired 13 Kidrobot toys in late 2007 for its own permanent collection.
I’ll admit that this may not be an aesthetic that everyone can appreciate, but my own small collection really infuses some personality into the room. Most of the toys are suitable for children, however, many come in raunchy adult themes such as the “Smorkin’ Labbit” series by Frank Kozik featuring bunnies in bondage gear smoking cigarettes.

Kidrobot operates store-galleries in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami. Their products can also be found at select boutique retailers around the world and online at www.kidrobot.com.

Israel’s answer to Kidrobot is a hybrid shop and gallery called Urbanix. It’s located on the second floor at 45 Shenkin Street in Tel Aviv. Some Kidrobot collectibles are sold there, but what I love about the place is the way they incorporate Israeli artists into the mix—and there are plenty of brilliant Israelis who are working in this genre. The owners also produce their own products, like clothing, accessories, figurines, and posters. A couple of the oversized vinyl figurines on display there would look great as sculptural accents in a garden or courtyard. There is also original artwork for sale, including some amazing silkscreen prints (my favorite medium).

Every few weeks they feature a new exhibition—the past two have really been sharp. The show called “Sneak Peak” featured one-off pairs of sneakers, sculptures and works on paper by 27 different artists who currently work in Israel. Walking the streets of Tel Aviv, it would not take long to recognize much of the graffiti adorning the crumbling walls of the city as that of the some of the show’s artists. The current exhibition showcases Israeli-made work, incorporating 3M Post-it notes in fantastic new ways. You can check it out until 13 July.

Another recent discovery and all-around gem of the Tel Aviv urban art scene is the Smig Concept Shop and Studio. Smig is the moniker of Guy Sebbag, an artist and graphic designer whose style draws inspiration from pop art themes like comic books. I had just finished the Bauhaus walking tour with a friend of mine who was visiting from the States. A few doors down from the Bauhaus center, I was drawn in by the striking wall decals that are mounted all over the pedestrian tunnel where the shop is located—the “Hod Passage”, an old mini-mall at the corner of Dizengoff and Frishman streets.

The shop sells a range of items that feature Guy’s work: t-shirts, wall clocks, paintings and digital prints on canvas, and wall decals. The decals come in all sizes and can also be customized for your space. If you’re really after something special, Smig can be commissioned to paint a mural. Take a look at these impressive mock-ups from his website!

I love the idea of comics or toys becoming an art form, and it certainly makes for a fun and colorful focal point in any space. As is the case with any tchochke or art piece, the display is very important. A simple frame for your silkscreen print or a lovely display case or shelving system for collectible toys will highlight them in an unobtrusive way and give them the visual integrity they deserve.