Toyism
THE DOT

Location: The Toyists – p/a Toyism Studio
Kolhoopstraat 1 – 7811 GD EMMEN
Netherlands

info@toyism.com
www.toyism.com
 
In 1992 a group of three, now expanded to fifteen, artists formed an aesthetic around the idea of toys and play. Rejecting the recent emphasis on ego in art, they wrote a manifesto called “Mother” and used as their watchword, “Art is as changeable as the weather”. Their style is figurative, colorful and precise, the images like fragments of a fairy tale. The artists use pseudonyms and puppets to hide their true identities, all the while continuing to create work under their real names as well. They are identified with nicknames like “Iffio”, “Bogha”, and “Zigowst”. At present, nine Dutch artists, one South African, one Italian, two Americans, one Malaysian and one Mexican comprise the group. Since each nickname must begin with a different letter of the alphabet it would appear that twenty-six members will be the limit.

Project: THE DOT
The transformation of the big GAS GLOBE in Emmen, Netherlands into a large work of art, will start in March/April 2009. Toyist artists from within and foreign countries will manage the tough job. A unique work of art with a theme of ‘live with energy’ – Of fossil fuels and oil to the possibilities that lie within the future of the territory of sun, wind and water.

The preparations have been started already. A landscapes plan has been rolled by the sign table and the trees and bushes have been removed around the Gas Globe. More than a quarter century already is the former Globe no longer in use and because of this rust has left its tracks.

As a symbol of a new start there has begun for the first time an effort to whitewash the Globe. This paint has very good qualities and is well durable against climate swing. Also the Toyists will work with this type of paint. The Globe is 22 meters high and over 1200 square meter steel must be painted in a number of layers.

Mid-February the scaffolding will be placed and the Globe will become screened during the whole project of 6 months. The Toyists from all over the world will be working and living here during some period of the project.

Artists who work in a similar style as Toyism and want to become a Toyist as well, also working together with us in this project, can send us an email for more information:

Dejo – Toyism Studio, Netherlands
info@toyism.com
www.toyism.com