This Is Not A Toy

But it is a toy.

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This Is Not A Toy, is an upcoming exhibit at the Design Exchange in Toronto. The exhibit was curated by John Wee Tom and DX Associate Curator Sara Nickelson with Guest Curator Pharrell Williams. The exhibition explores the conceptual toy – a form made solely as an expression of an aesthetic, concept or idea – as an art and design object as well as a contemporary cultural signifier (or as Barthes would call them – second-order signs). It is the world’s first exhibition featuring a collection of contemporary sculptures, figurines and artworks created by artists including Takashi Murakami, KAWS, FriendsWithYou, Coarse, Huck Gee, and Frank Kozik.

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But why Pharrell? Well besides the obvious celebrity draw to bring in the crowds to the DX. It seems that Williams is obsessed with designer toys and the ways they push the boundaries of art. And I couldn’t agree with him more. These vinyl toys “are not meant to be played with” and instead challenge expectations and explore the line between commercialism and contemporary art.

Tickets now available through the Design Exchange. The exhibit starts February 7th and will be on display until May 19th, 2014.

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Christian has been a cultural and style junkie since the age of 6; while most kids were swiping cookies, he was swiping his grandfathers' Patek Philippe. Raised to appreciate art, fashion,design and  literature (yeah, this one actually reads) by a single mother fondly called Jackie-O. Christian quickly went from childhood cultural capital thief to academia protégé. Referred to as the cat's meow by some, too clever by half by others, Christian eschewed the academic life and ran away to join the circus -the fashion circus. Several well-appointed positions later and a career on the rise would be most people's dream but it was time to say fuck off and start all over again.

This is Christian Dare Unedited.