Hong Kong Toy Story - a sociological observation
By Lui Tai-lok & Yiu Wai-hung
ISBN 988-97610-7-6
ISBN 978-988-97610-7-3
330mm (H) x 154mm (W)
120 pages + 96 pages accordion folds
Full-color. Softcover.
Chinese with brief English summary
HK$210 (inclusive of delivery)
US$28.5 + postage fee (outside Hong Kong delivery)
Is it just another piece of toy? Or rather, a movement of
contemporary design, expressing a sense of playfulness and a touch of
urbanism?
In recent years, a group of designers, toy shop owners, and collectors, with diverse concerns, interests and motivations, have come to shape and re-shape the toy scene in Hong Kong. They share two commonalities: they want to design their own toys and they are very rigorous about the concept and well as the details of a piece of toy.
For some, toy is the form, a way to express more abstract ideas. For others, it is a piece of toy showing their own personalities. Some started their work simply for the sake of self-expression. Others were quick to see the business potentials of these design-driven toys. Either way, the outcome is a wave of creative works with a good sense of humour, a touch of urban sensitivity and a synergy of crossover.
Hong Kong has long been famous for toy manufacturing. While Hong Kong manufacturers have been successful in producing all kinds of toys for the world market, their strength lies primarily in manufacturing. The works we are going to feature in this book are truly genuine toys of Hong Kong, figurines designed by local designers and produced under their supervision.
This book is mainly divided into two Main Parts which appeared in the left and right hand side of the book respectively:
Part I (the left side of the book) includes essays on the diverse driving forces, from artistic concerns to self expression, behind this design toy movement in contemporary Hong Kong, and on this movement's connection with broader Hong Kong culture; It also looks at this movement from the angle of the creative industry and offers an analysis of the interface between creative design on the one side and business concerns and postmodern consumption on the other, and of how these creative works would become products of the creative industry.
Part II (the right side of the book in accordion design approach) gives an overview of selected works and designs by various designers interviewed by the authors. It introduces the readers to some impressive works of ten Hong Kong designers.
About the Creator
Tai-lok
LUI - is Professor of Sociology at the
Chinese University of Hong Kong. Lui initiates the opening of new university
credit-based programme on Soccer and Society...
Wai-hung YIU - received his M.Phil. in Sociology from Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research interests lie in comics, popular culture, and the creative industry...