Toyism
Toyism is an international movement of contemporary art that presents itself to the public as a collective. Toyism was founded in Emmen ( Netherlands ) in 1992 , with an increasing and changing group of participants worldwide.
The art movement initiated the largest work of art in the Netherlands, “De Stip” in Emmen; also the largest work of art in Iceland, the Uppspretta water tower in Keflavík . The toyists now have around 800 works, including paintings, sculptures and spatial objects.
Art movement
The word toyism has two parts. The literal translation of the first component toy is "toy". The second part -ism refers to movements and currents as they exist in art, philosophy and religion.
The origins of the works of art of Toyism are mostly stubborn and contemporary philosophies and insights that are painted in a recognizable but strange world. The anecdote of every painting is the "common thread" in the works of art by the toyists.
In the founding act, notarized on September 5, 1992, the dominance of individualism is forbidden. In response to this, the toyists' goal since then has been to put art back into focus and not the artist. This is achieved, among other things, by wearing masks and working under a pseudonym .
“In the search for art-historical cadres, to which one can count the toyists, point in the direction of Pop Art … Keith Haring and graffiti . The intellectual affinity with leading representatives of these directions is great. An eye-catching big match is the pseudonym. The conscious choice of anonymity, de-individualization, the preference for a guerrilla-like design, the preference for public space as a podium and an anti-establishment mentality connects the toyists with the graffiti artists. "
Art historical classification
The style of the toyists can be divided into two periods: the first period from 1992 to 2000 and the second from 2002 to today. Both periods differ fundamentally both artistically and personally.
1992-2000
The name "Toyism" came about in 1990 when Dejo (pseudonym) created a graphic entitled "Escape of the Computer Spiders." It was this work and similar ones that were to follow that were at the cradle of this art style at the beginning of the 90s. However, it was two years before his ideas resulted in a manifesto.
Dejo is the writer of this manifesto, which bears the name "Moeder" (in German: "mother"). He wrote it on September 5, 1992 and after a month two other artists from Emmen (NL) joined the movement. The first work was shown on February 24, 1993 in Veenpark . A year after it was founded, the toyists' works were exhibited in New York City . In the initial phase, a symbol from each of the three artists was used in each work.
At the basis of the movement is a figurative art style that was initially inspired primarily by the computer game Super Mario and game consoles from Nintendo .
The clouds and the computer in the background of the game were inspiration; at the beginning recognizable symbols of the style of toyism are derived from these. In the beginning, we mainly worked with simple symbols that were repeated, such as the space shuttle and the computer .
2002 until today
Dejo gave toyism a new form and renewed the manifesto in 2002. This discarded the limitations of the repetitive symbols. Even so, the figurative style is still a guide. Closed surfaces and lines and the use of intense colors are the main components of toyism. Artists from various countries, the Netherlands , Belgium , Germany , Italy , Iceland , Romania , United States , Canada , Mexico , Peru , South Africa , Australia , Thailand , Malaysia and the People's Republic of China have joined. All artists work under pseudonyms, the maximum number is limited to 26. Each pseudonym begins with a different letter from the alphabet. The toyists' oeuvre now consists of around 800 works, ranging from paintings to large and small sculptures.
Until 2015 the toyists had a permanent exhibition space “Toyisme Studio” in Emmen (NL). In the same year the group moved its headquarters to Groningen (NL). In the years that followed, the gallery was located in the "Villa Heymans" right next to the Groninger Museum . Since 2017, the toyists' gallery and studio have been located on the KLM Flight Academy premises next to Groningen Airport in Eelde .
philosophy
When the Dejo Manifesto was rewritten, toyism took on a new direction and a new way of thinking. The basic idea of art has a more egocentric character, whereas in toyism the individual subordinates himself to the group. For this reason, they wear a mask in public and work under a pseudonym. Toyists come from very different cultural backgrounds but have a common understanding of how toyism is interpreted. Every artist can express himself in the style of toyism without losing his own individual value or his own feeling. The number of different disciplines gives rise to new insights and reinforces the new ideas. And yet every toyist is able to tell and express his own story. Toyists work on their own toyistic works of art and on collaborative works of art.
Large projects in public space like “De Stip” are always carried out as a group. Toyism can be recognized directly as a style element, despite the diversity of the toyists among each other.
Exhibitions
In 2004 the then director of the Groninger Museum , Frans Haks , opened an exhibition of the toyists in Eindhoven (NL). At that time the group consisted of 6 members. Exhibitions took place in Emmen , Hooghalen, Assen ( Drents Museum ), Schiedam , The Hague and Amsterdam , among others .
Outside the Netherlands, the toyists exhibited in Beijing , Cincinnati , Houston , Miami , Austin , San Antonio , New York , Keflavík ( Iceland ) and Taiwan (National Museum of Fine Arts).
Examples of public works
- De Stip (2009) - painting of a 22 meter high former gas reservoir in Emmen (NL). De Stip tells the story of living with energy. This is the largest public work of art in the Netherlands.
- Hotel ten Cate - painting of the facade of the Hotel ten Cate in Emmen (2002) with the theme “Dreaming as Breakfast”. In addition, a number of the guest rooms have been designed by toyists. In 2013 a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit was painted in toyistic colors on behalf of the same hotel .
Hotel ten Cate
Hotel ten Cate (at night)
Dance of Love room (room dance of love)
- Uppspretta - In 2013 a neglected water tower in the Icelandic city of Keflavík was transformed. With a picture story that tells the legend of Upspretta. It is the largest mural in Iceland.
Toyists at Uppspretta
Excerpt from the legend of Uppspretta
Uppspretta
- In 2018, the toyists' field of work expanded to China. In Beijing , the toyists won first prize in a competition supported by the local embassy of the Netherlands. The art movement “Toyism” was able to execute the work of art “What's for Dinner” in the Dashanzi art district in Chaoyang . At the same time, the toyists carried out a community art project on the theme of Noah's Ark - the philosophy of belief in a Hong Kong elementary school.
Toyists
All toyists with pseudonyms, the former and the present: Alfago, Amukek, Aniyina, Bogha, Bliissem, Clamaoing, Cluv, Dejo, Eiiz, Fihi, Gihili, Hribso, Iffio, Iqoy, Jaf'r, Kixoz, Knafoe, Link, Lodieteb, Miku, Mwano, Nooiya, Ollafinah, Pixy, Qooimee, Roq, Sassy, Srylyn, Toescat, UULUU, Vixyv, Wennigeb, Wolemeo, Wywy, Xippez, Yoza, Yicazoo, Zigowst.
Dejo
Gihili
Qooimee
Bliissem and Hribso
Lodieteb
bibliography
- 1993 - The Fairy Tale of the Toyists
- 1996 - The History of the Toyists
- 2004 - The Building Blocks of the Toyists
- 2004 - Playing Dice with the Toyists
- 2004 - Invasion of the Toyists
- 2005 - Let the Games Begin
- 2007 - Art through the Mind of a Toyist
- 2011 - Connecting the Dots
- 2011 - The Toyists have landed
- 2012 - Toyism Behind the Mask
- 2013 - Toyism Making History
- 2013 - More Art by Printing
- 2014 - Uppspretta
Individual evidence
- ↑ Gemeente Emmen: De Stip. ( Memento from April 7, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Wim van der Beek: Toyism Behind the Mask. De Kunst, Zwolle 2012, ISBN 978-94-91196-20-1 , p. 8.
- ↑ Zuidoosthoeker, Boekpresentatie toyisten , January 29, 2014.
- ^ Wim van der Beek: Toyism Behind the Mask. De Kunst, Zwolle 2012, ISBN 978-94-91196-20-1 , p. 34.
- ^ Wim van der Beek: Toyism Behind the Mask. De Kunst, Zwolle 2012, ISBN 978-94-91196-20-1 , p. 10.
- ↑ Drenthe Kunst Breed in Beeld, DEJO - Toyisme Studio
- ↑ Peter Sierksma: Het laatste manifest van de eeuw , April 9th of 2008.
- ↑ Toyists Verruilen Emmen voor Groningen , on dvhn.nl
- ↑ HET ONTSTAAN VAN TOYISME ( Memento from November 30, 2015 in the Internet Archive )