Fang Runsheng (James Fong aka Ultraman) B.1968

If canvas, ceramic and paper can be the creative platforms for artists, why not toys?  Urban vinyl, originated from Hong Kong, is a unique combination of art and pop culture. Established in Hong Kong for more than thirty four years, Sotheby’s proudly presents two of the most important urban vinyl artists in Hong Kong: Raymond Choy and James Fong (Ultraman). Lot 107 and Lot 108 are in the bear-shaped template from “Qee?series which was created by Raymond in 2002. While Raymond Choy provides a new definition to his 60-inch Qee bear template in Lot 108, James Fong gives his 36-inch Qee bear Lot 107, with shiny metal-liked finish.

Fine art and pop culture have been ever more closely entwined since the Pop Art movement in 1960’s. Despite the famous Campbell soup symbol in Andy Warhol’s (1928-1987) work, comic and cartoon are some of the popular elements in works of Pop Artists, including Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1977). Not only the Pop Art movement sought not only to combine the realms of popular mass culture and fine art, it also brought comics and cartoons to fine art galleries or museums. 

The highly developed animation and comic market has enabled “Neo Pop?to emerged in 1990’s. “Neo Pop?was initiated by a group of artists whose signature images are from Japanese sub-club i.e. Japanese sub-culture i.e. comic and animation. They mix the sub-culture with Japanese Modern Art and lead the Japanese art to a brand new direction.

Takashi Murakami (B. 1963), as a leading figure of Neo Pop, introduced the concept of “Superflat?in 1999, which connected fine art with manga and animation. “The world is not an isolated sphere, everywhere is an extension of two dimensions to infinite.? “Everything is two-dimensional.?Under the influence of globalisation, the concept of homogenizing and flattening the barrier between art and popular culture foretells the future art trend.

Neo Pop saw an emergence of a generation of young artists who borrow images from animation and comic. The home towns of Artists including cities like Seoul, Taiwan and Hong Kong are influenced by Japanese Culture.

Urban vinyl is an extension of Neo Pop in Hong Kong’s own fashion; it also challenges people’s conception of art by means of consumable toys.

The first urban vinyl was produced by Michael Lau in 1997 in Hong Kong. The line, called the Gardeners, features a number of 12-inch cartoon characters which are tattooed and in trendy clothes. Since then, this combination of art and toy radiated from the tiny island to the rest of the world.

These highly stylized action figures, ranging from 2 inches to over 10 inches tall attracts dozens of designers and graffiti artists to paint with their own designs. This also experiments with the idea of combining art with popular culture. 

Raymond Choi opened a toy shop named Toy2R before launching his first urban vinyl Toyer in 2001. Toyer is a vinyl featuring a death’s head. After this fear-provoking but lovely attempt, Raymond introduced his Qee series.

Qee was originally a 2-inch figure key chain. The family consists of figures of dogs, bears and cats followed by mice, monkeys and eggs in a later stage. The design of Qee series is minimal and cute. The eye-catching asymmetric ears of the Qee bear deliberately make fun of that of the Mickey Mouse.

Years later, Raymond gave birth to his most astonishing DIY series featuring a blank black or white figure which is ready to be painted. Raymond provides a chance for everyone to have their very own designs at an affordable price. 

People who buy the DIY Qee are encouraged to design their own Qees and send back their images. Selected designs have come to actual production. Thus, the DIY series helps creating a strong community of artists and designers as well as advocating creativity as a kind of life style.

Raymond, in the mean time, also invited different artists to design various new looks of Qee figures, including Spanish designer Jaime Hayon(1974).

Raymond, as a designer of Qee bear’s template, gives his Qee bear (Lot no.108)with stone-liked white colour surface which is minimal in style. James Fong (Ultraman) finishes the Qee bear (Lot no. 107) with his favourite metal-liked surface to explore the relationship of materials and the surface. He also gives his Qee a necklace featuring a normal 2-inch bear. 

Applying creative designs to a consumable toy, Urban Vinyl’s Qee series demonstrates how successful it can be when art meets popular culture. Originated from Hong Kong and quickly spread its wings to the rest of world, Urban Vinyl is truly an icon of Hong Kong pop culture. Sotheby’s Hong Kong is proud to present two of the finest, Raymond Choy and James Fong (Ultraman), to serious art collectors all over the world.