Water Pistol Tribute to Hong Kong’s History of Plastic Toy Production

Water Pistol Tribute to Hong Kong's History of Plastic Toy Production by Douglas Young

Douglas Young, the founder of Hong Kong-based brand goods of desire (G.O.D.) installed a giant plastic water pistol sculpture at the recent Hong Kong international art fair. Entitled
Quantity Has a Quality in Itself, the installation goes against the current American “artisinal” trend of quality over quantity.

Water Pistol Tribute to Hong Kong's History of Plastic Toy Production by Douglas Young

Perhaps Young believes the two descriptors are not mutually exclusive. The sculpture is meant to memorialize Hong Kong as the world center of plastic toy production. Young uses plastic water pistols to visualize a time in which this area was the top production zone for the plastic materials industry.

"Quantity Has a Quality in Itself" by Douglas Young

Hundreds of petroleum-based pistols hang from a black metal skeleton. Young says:

The colorful water pistol was one of [Hong Kong’s plastic industry’s] icons. Its lurid colors and poor quality construction is a far cry from the world of art. But nothing succeeds like excess. By putting them in a new context, they are able to develop a different (and hopefully more positive) appeal. Just like Hong Kong itself, the attraction is the result of its inherent contradictions.

If you scaled this down a bit, wouldn’t this make a rad (and functional) shower curtain?

"Quantity Has a Quality in Itself" by Douglas Young

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