New Coarse Toys Oop and Awe
How serendipitous that news of Coarse Toys‘ latest release hit my inbox the same day that my interview with Mark Landwehr for Design Bureau magazine hit my mailbox?
Coarse Toys has truly elevated the art of toy collecting, and their upcoming figures see them regressing (literally, not technically). Dropping the leading consonant from their characters, noop and paw, Coarse Toys presents oop and aw:
Each oop container houses two cells, at the height of infancy [OOcyte Phase]. Each specimen is lab reared by COARSELIFE in imagination ducts deep underground. Monitor the evolution of the two oop* closely while they shift to noop [NOxious Organic Phase]. Due to accelerated life span, embryos undergo erratic muscle gain and frenzied energy spurts. Carefully raise these clone cuttings and they will ensure a happy harvest.
*Multiple form also called oop
The oop and awe figures measure 7 inches each and are based on the life-sized statues shown at Coarse’s 2010 solo exhibition, Glimpse of Truth. I especially like the care Coarse takes in both the design and philosophy of their packaging. I talked with Mark about this for the Design Bureau column, and I’ll post the full, extended interview on my blog next week. But here’s Coarse on the packaging for oop and aw:
The radiant twins come housed in cuddly sponge in their solid oop container. This essential transit case is crafted from matt-coated white card with silver foil, it includes CO² vents for breathing and a semitransparent carry handle. The comfy duo are waiting to be taken home to their new bedding and raised up.
The oop loser Hong Kong Brood edition (limited to 200 pieces) in an “innocent white and blush colour palette” will be on sale Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 exclusively at coarsehkg. The price of 1,280 HKD / ~ $164 USD includes global shipping, a signed birth certificate and one family & friends application card. If you manage to score this set, orders will be shipped out this coming summer, June of 2011.
For those of you who have commitment issues with pre-orders, the oop loser Signature Brood edition (no edition size provided) “presented in white and sunnyside-yellow colours” will be in Coarse retailers worldwide this summer for a suggested retail price of $136 USD.
