This is Not a Toy — An Exhibition of Contemporary Art + Collectible Design

Photography, Arash Moallemi

TorontoArt & Culture

Not Playing Around

Pharrell and friends show that designer toys are seriously desirable...

Please do not play with the exhibits. Although the items in this collection might look like toys, they are here at Canada’s Design Exchange (DX) in a purely aesthetic capacity, created and displayed as design exercises and fine art objects. This Is Not a Toy has been curated by that guy Pharrell Williams – the first time the musician has been involved in putting together a museum exhibition – and in addition to providing some of the exhibits from his personal collection, Williams has also had a hand in one of the most impressive pieces in the show. The Simple Things, a collaboration with Takashi Murakami and Jacob the Jeweller, is a sugar-rush of colour and consumables within a grinning fibreglass and metal head.

As well as objects from some of the world’s best designer toy producers This Is Not a Toy is an interactive audio-visual treat too, and there are interviews with contributing artists such as KAWS to listen to, stop-motion videos, short films from the likes of FriendsWithYou, and a look at the manufacturing and customisation process of vinyl toys. Closing date for the show is 19 May.

@DesignExchange

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