Singapore Welcomes Back POP TOY SHOW with Exciting "Dimoo In the Garden City"

Hi Huneybees,

After the overwhelming success of the inaugural POP TOY SHOW (PTS) in Singapore last September, global sensation POP MART is excited to announce the return of this highly anticipated event. The 2nd edition will be held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Level 1 - Halls A, B, and C, from 23 to 25 August 2024.

This year’s headliner is Dimoo, a top fan favorite from POP MART. Themed “Dimoo in the Garden City”,  the 2024 show promises a larger and more exciting lineup of international, regional, and local artists, participating brands, and exclusive collectible art toys for fans and collectors.

“I am really happy to be able to return to Singapore for the second PTS, and I definitely look forward to meeting Dimoo fans from around the world” --- Ayan Deng, artist of Dimoo. 

This time, fans who could not get enough of the curious boy with a baby cloud on his head, can expect more than four (4) PTS-exclusive Dimoo drops, and snap photos at Dimoo’s booth that features a life-sized sculpture.

Lang, the artist behind Hirono and Head of the POP Design Center (PDC), is another fan favorite confirmed for this year's show. Joining Lang are two young artists from PDC, Xue Chen, the creator of Sweet Bean, and Yumi, the artist behind Pino Jelly. Both will be making their debut appearance in Singapore to meet their fans. This year, PDC will have its own standalone booth showcasing its staple Intellectual Property (IP), with several first launches and Singapore-exclusive toys.

"From custom skateboards and sneakers to streetwear, fans can expect many new and fresh collections debuting at PTS Singapore. I hope they enjoy what they see." --- Quiccs

Additionally, Quiccs, a renowned artist from the Philippines, is preparing to showcase his latest works at PTS Singapore. Known for his street art and the character TEQ63, Quiccs has collaborated with many notable brands, including Adidas and Jollibee. 

The exhibition will feature over 50 different artists, toy designers, and international toy brands during the three-day extravaganza. Highlights include exclusive meet and greet sessions with renowned POP MART artists, the unveiling of exclusive merchandise, and captivating live drawing sessions by a myriad of talented artists.

“Since the last PTS in Singapore, POP MART has continued to expand our footprints globally with many new stores opening in Thailand, Vietnam, Europe and US. We believe PTS Singapore will be a good meeting point for all our loyal and new fans to meet and interact, not only within the community, also with the artists, brands and collaborators” --- Justin Moon, President of POP MART International.

Tickets for the show are currently available through Ticketmaster. Purchase them via bit.ly/pts2024ticket. Options include 1-Day, 3-Day, Group (4 pax) 1-Day, and Premium 3-Day tickets, starting from $28 for early bird tickets. Stay tuned to PTS's website and social media pages for more updates.

Don't miss out on this epic event where art, culture, and community collide! Come on over to Marina Bay Sands for a weekend full of amazing art, awesome activities, and loads of fun. Let’s make some unforgettable memories!

Do follow me on my social media for more daily updates...
 Facebook page | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Read More

BLAXK x BBRC Studios - The Creation of HeeDong

Hi Huneybees,

For the next few months, BLAXK by ActionCity (BLAXK), the space for pop culture, art, and collectibles, will collaborate with BBRC Studios to present The Creation of HeeDong Exhibition.  Featuring the works of South Korean artist Aaron Chang at his inaugural solo show in Singapore!

I was introduced to Aaron and HeeDong back at the Pop Toy Show in Singapore. His cute rendition of his Boston Terrier caught my attention with its adorable expressions. If you go on to the Instagram page, there are so many relatable memes and videos to our daily lives!

Meet Aaron Chang – the creator of HeeDong and IVY BOYS!

Based in South Korea, Aaron was previously the Design Director for New Balance Korea who worked in commercial design, UX/UI, and fashion advertising. His beautiful illustrations are a product of his love of fashion and preppy/Ivy style and credits his current style of personal illustrations as inspired by renowned fashion photographer Scott Schuman’s The Sartorialist blog, as well as renowned names like Pitti Uomo, Nick Wooster, and Takahiro Kinoshita.

Best known for his Ivy style of illustration, blending line art and colours with detailed fashion drawings to create his iconic style, Aaron became a strong advocate for the preppy culture and style, creating his own independent and unique IVY BOYS artworks and prints. The signature colours which the artist usually uses – yellow, pink, pale sky blue, and mint – are the colours of his childhood home in Busan, known for its incredible sunsets, seaside, and overall natural landscape.

Aaron held his solo IVY BOYS exhibition in Los Angeles in May 2022. The artist’s strong and clean Ivy Style art was also featured on Hypebeast for his collaboration with clothing label Percival – which was followed by a myriad of projects including brands like New Balance (Korea), Baracuta (Italy), AnIVY (Denmark), TVR (Japan), Grocery (Hong Kong), Drôle De Monsieur (France), Panyter (US) and Attorie (US).

Annyeonghaseyo, HeeDong the Wonder Dog!

HeeDong an inspiration by his real-life Boston Terrier, was born out of the sketchbooks of Aaron and

immediately took on a life of entertainment and fantasy, spreading humour and good vibes in our day-to-day encounters observed through a dog’s lens as he embarks on the various escapades and adventures we all yearn to be a part of.

Affectionately named ‘HeeDong’, this small dog in real life becomes much more in his dreams, or when his ‘hoomans’ are not around. HeeDong lives in a world where adventures are plenty, imagination boundless and anything is possible.

Launched via the world of Web3 and viral memes, HeeDong is not just a pet dog, but an art platform designed by Aaron to represent the inner child in all of us - pop culture, curiosity for the unknown, and wanderlust for escapades.  Gaining mass popularity through short-form animation and spawning off his own meme content on Instagram and TikTok, HeeDong is now ready to venture into the world of designer art toys and collectibles for his fanbase!

Exhibition Artworks and Merchandise

Bringing the cheeky yet undeniably adorable HeeDong to life through various mediums, The Creation of HeeDong Exhibition puts together a fascinating collection of collectible art prints, digital assets, large-scale sculptures, and exclusive art toys - showcasing Aaron’s captivating art which has created strong following of collectors and fans worldwide.

Standing at 30cm tall, this first release of 5 designs showcases HeeDong in multiple realms. Featuring interchangeable parts and movable arm joints, one can look forward to adding your own style into your collection of HeeDongs in the coming days. Do also keep your eyes on the lookout for the Varsity HeeDong exclusive to BLAXK!

With bright eyes wandering out into the galaxy of infinite possibilities, BBRC Studios x Aaron Chang presents the limited edition series of Collectible Figurines encapsulating a Space theme - a celebration of our hopes and dreams, and an ode to a better tomorrow.

*Available in Pearl White and Silver.

Exclusive collectibles & releases

Dive deeper into the wonderful world of HeeDong with the upcoming range of blind box figurines themed “The Daily Life of HeeDong”. Collect ‘em all, including two rare chasers. What do they look like, you might wonder? Head down to BLAXK to find out!

The Creation of HeeDong exhibition

The Creation of HeeDong exhibition invites you to step into the wonderful world of HeeDong’s dreams where his fantasies come to life, where memories are minted with new friends, and where experiences are filled with wonder. Stay tuned to BLAXK's Instagram as Aaron will be in town for an exclusive meet and greet session!

Period: 18 November 2023 (Saturday) – 14 January 2024 (Sunday)

Venue: BLAXK by ActionCity

Address: 107 North Bridge Rd, Funan, #01-03, Singapore 179097

Do follow me on my social media for more daily updates...
 Facebook page | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Read More

POP TOY SHOW Singapore 2023 Was A Blast!

Hi Huneybees,

The POP TOY SHOW was an absolute blast! Although my wallet took a hit, I was thrilled to snag some exclusive items.

Beloved POP MART characters like Molly, Hacipupu, Labubu, Dimoo, Pucky, and my personal favorite, SKULLPANDA, were all featured. Their statues adorned the event grounds and the area around Marina Bay Sands.

When I arrived, the place was already buzzing with fans, eager to grab their spots for the special launches. Despite the crowd, the event was well-organized, making it easy to navigate through the different sections.

The talented artists behind these charming characters were also present for meet-and-greet sessions. Though the queues filled up quickly, I managed to catch a glimpse of them. It’s incredible to witness the global fanbase these small blindbox characters have garnered.

Beyond the familiar POP MART characters, there were also booths showcasing other blind box collections from China. The Lulupie figures were particularly captivating with their moveable and magnetic parts, evoking a sense of innocent childhood playtime.

Simone Legno, the creative genius behind my favorite Tokidoki brand, also made an appearance to support the event. It’s always a pleasure to see this friendly Italian artist and his vibrant works. Despite my best efforts to resist, I couldn’t help but snag some of his merch.

Another highlight was the collaboration between HeeDong & IVY BOYS. Korean artist Aaron Chang, inspired by his pet dog, creates clean-cut 2D art with a varsity vibe that perfectly aligns with the latest fashion trends. This unique style made it one of my favorite features at the show. There is some Web3 incubation in the works, but it's a realm I'm not too familiar. Fans who dabbles in this brand new area, can come on down to check it out.

Local toy makers and artists from CoPlay have a special featured area at the event. It’s always a proud moment to see our homegrown talents showcased on the global stage. It was nice catching up with the artists since we last met at CoPlay. You can find show exclusives at their booths too!

There’s still a lot happening this weekend at PTS, and the one event I'm most excited about is the SKULLPANDA x CLOT collaboration figurine reveal. They're keeping it under wraps until tomorrow, and I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of it before it gets snagged up again.

The inaugural Pop Toy Show Singapore 2023 is happening from 8-10 September 2023 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre Basement 2, Halls D & E. You can still get tickets at http://www.poptoyshow.sg. Come on down and have some fun!

Do follow me on my social media for more daily updates...
 Facebook page | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Read More