KAWS Bearbrick and ‘Passing Through’

These are my KAWS Bearbrick collection. I only have four 400% size and the 200% size die-cast chogokin. It’s funny that I don’t have even one 100% size.

 

The Bearbrick KAWS Chompers (the blue one) was one of the first bearbricks I ever bought. That time I didn't know anything about KAWS. I didn’t know much about Bearbricks either. I thought the design was cool and it looked like a cat… haha.. The ‘X X’ eyes were kinda neat too and now, those ‘X X’ eyes are a trademark of KAWS works.

 

For those who don’t know KAWS, he’s Brian Donelly and based in New York City. He started out as a graffiti artist, working on advertisements on bus stops and billboards. As he became more and more popular, his work started to grow all over the world.

After, he started designing vinyl toys and gained recognition amongst toy collectors for his style and genre. He created his character ‘Companion’ with the iconic ‘X X’ eyes under his ‘OriginalFake’ brand.

Recently, KAWS was in Hong Kong to promote his huge 5-meter Companion character  displayed outdoors at Harbour City at TST as part of his ‘Passing Through’ exhibition. Here are some pics that I took.

 

 

Every toy collector knows collecting KAWS merchandise can burn a hole in your pocket. His toys are produced limited in numbers and not many people would spend that amount of money on a piece of plastic. Though I’m not a die-hard KAWS collector (I’m glad I’m not or else I would go bankrupt!), I admire his work a lot.

As a Bearbrick collector, one KAWS item on my wish list is his 400% brown Bearbrick made of wood (though there is a black version too), currently going at US$1000+ at the secondary market. This piece to me is a true collectible item.

 

Featured Bearbricks:

- KAWS Chompers (avex a-nation) Bearbrick 400% (blue)

- KAWS Companion OriginalFake Bearbrick 400% (red)

- KAWS Companion OriginalFake Bearbrick 400% (grey)

- KAWS Companion OriginalFake Bearbrick 400% (black)

- KAWS Companion OriginalFake Bearbrick 200% Chogokin

Headquarter X Seher One Bearbrick 400%+100%

In May 2010, celebrating the 5th anniversary of their store, Headquarter teamed up with Mexican urban artist Seher One for this amazing Bearbrick 400%+100% set, designed with impressive graphics.

I didn’t know about Seher One until I bought this bearbrick set and researched him on the Internet. His graphics are spontaneous and really damn powerful.

 

Seher One (David Pinon Hernandez) is from Mexico City and has pure talent. His art shows intoxicating movement and fluidity, with sharp and vivid colors. It’s like a mixture of fantasy and horror. His incredible imagination makes him unique and stand out from other graffiti artists.

 Check out some of his works. (source: SEHER ONE)

    

I would like to see more of his art out there. Another team-up with Medicom for more bearbrick designs? Maybe as an Artist in an upcoming Series? I’m already a big fan.

Featured Bearbrick:
- Headquarter X Seher One Bearbrick 400%+100% Set

The Beatles Bearbrick

A week and a day ago on Saturday, October 9, was John Lennon’s 70th birthday. And there were birthday celebrations around the globe. Who wouldn’t forget such a musical legend?

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were The Beatles. Also known as the Fab Four. They were formed in 1960 in Liverpool, England and became one of the most successful bands in music. I don’t think I need to say more. The rest is music history.

In 1968, an animated feature film ‘Yellow Submarine’ was released based on the music of The Beatles. And based on this film, you have The Beatles Yellow Submarine Bearbrick Set.

 

What I like about this set is the packing. The box is designed like a submarine and you have the Fab Four looking out the round windows.

The bearbricks are also designed just like the costumes the Fab Four are wearing in the film.

Another Beatles Bearbrick Set is the ‘Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band’, based on their eighth album release in 1967. On this album cover, you will see images of items and several celebrities.

As for the Beatles themselves, they are dressed in marching band attire:

- Ringo Starr is in magenta,
- John Lennon in yellow,
- Paul McCartney in blue, and
- George Harrison in orange.


 

I do not know if Medicom noticed a big, big flaw in the packaging of this Bearbrick set. On the packing, there is a spelling mistake. Instead of 'Hearts', it is spelled 'Heats'. So you get ‘Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heats Club Band’.

We also have a 400% and 100% The Beatles Bearbrick in black with their logo on the front and a green apple on the back.

What’s this green apple? The green apple is actually ‘Apple Records’. ‘Apple Records’ is a record label founded by the Beatles in 1968. 

When the Beatles broke up in 1970, each of them went on with their solo careers. John Lennon became a peace activist and wrote songs that are anti-war, like ‘Give Peace A Chance’ and ‘Imagine’.

Sadly, in December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City. He is an absolute legend and will never be forgotten.

 

Featured Bearbricks:
- The Beatles ‘Yellow Submarine’ Bearbrick Set 100%
- The Beatles ‘Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band’ Bearbrick Set 100%
- The Beatles ‘Apple Records’ 400% and 100% Bearbrick Set

Breast Cancer Awareness Bearbrick 100%

This month, October, is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Worldwide, millions of people, are suffering from breast cancer everyday. They feel the fear, the pain and lose hope in life. Let us not forget those close to us we lost to this disease, too.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is all about increasing the awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection.

The breast cancer awareness campaign began in 1992, founded by Evelyn Lauder of the Estee Lauder Company. Together with Alexandra Penney of Self Magazine, they created the iconic pink ribbon and became the official symbol of breast cancer awareness.

 

 

Back in October 2008, Medicom joined in the breast cancer awareness campaign by releasing this limited edition Breast Cancer Awareness Bearbrick for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) 16th Anniversary. This piece comes in a pink gradient body with a unique metallic pink head and the famous pink ribbon on its body.

Do your cause for breast cancer. Educate yourself about it, tell everyone around you about it. Unhook your bra and go for regular check ups.

Featured Bearbrick:
- Breast Cancer Awareness Bearbrick 100%

Anna Sui Bearbrick 400%

Anna Sui (Chinese name: 蕭志美) is a New York-based fashion designer known for her playful and colorful designs.

Her brand is very popular amongst the females here in Hong Kong. But what puzzles me is that it’s her fragrance and cosmetic line that is more popular than her fashion line.

 

I guess it’s because her fashion lines are not that exposed. Nearly all Anna Sui stores here concentrate less on fashion and more on her accessories line, which is a pity.

 

She was named one of the Top 5 Fashion Icons of the Decade by Time Magazine so imagine the impact she has in the fashion industry.

This Anna Sui Bearbrick 400% is a follow-up to the 100% version released back in 2008. The Bearbrick is designed in black with a belt, a brooch, cuffs, collar and button eyes. You also have the ‘Anna Sui’ logo across its face in a smile.

Featured Bearbrick:

- Anna Sui Bearbrick 400%