Ages ago we saw a really cool post up at Nice Produce with a studio feature on artist Stephen Ives, and a segment on his Honey Bee Wars that he had put together – at the time, we thought it was awesome– but having just checked the Everfresh blog this morning,  it looks like it might be outdone by his next show, TOY.

Stephen creates custom toys out of the cut up, mutated, technically implemented and all together warp parts from other toys – and his creations lend an air of the surreal to familiar icons.

“In the 1970’s a toy was essentially a toy, then came Star Wars and the world of child entertainment changed forever. ‘You saw the movie now buy the softdrink’…books, board games, computer games, figurines, costumes, t-shirts, pyjamas, cups, confectionery, fastfood, lunchboxes, theme parks, tv shows, reality shows (shows about reality shows), musicals, mobile phones, computers, designer gadgets, cars, lifestyle choices, Life… marketing gone wrong (or maybe right?), where does the child end and the adult begin? Is it about toys or are we being toyed with?”

Can not wait!

Who: Stephen Ives
What: TOY solo show (customised toys and sculptures)
Where: No Vacancy Gallery, 34-40 Jane Bell Lane, QV, Melbourne
When: Show opens Thursday April 7th from 6pm til 9pm, and runs til 19th April

Via Everfresh. Check out the No Vacancy website for more details on the artist and the show.