Ron English and Chris Brown Collaborate on Dum English Toys
|I did not see this one coming: Ron English and Chris Brown are collaborating on a line of vinyls to be known as Dum English toys. The news is all over the place following the reveal of a collaborative sculpture by the artist and the musician over the weekend at Art Basel. Here’s how The Miami New Times tells it:
They chose the image of the astronaut to represent this experience [the simultaneous attractiveness and isolation of fame] because just like a spaceman, Brown is in the spotlight but lonely at the same time. “An astronaut doesn’t go to space just for himself or his family. The whole country is behind him,” English explains. “Most artists listen to music when they paint,” he says. “A lot of famous musicians don’t know about art. Kanye West has gotten really into art. David Bowie got heavily into art.” He thinks there’s room with this project to expand audiences for both of them.
He does have a point. David Bowie was into art. Kanye West is a pretty big collector. And astronauts do often punch their girlfriends in the faces. I’m sorry to sound so jaded, but I didn’t really get English painting Brown’s Fame cover art back in March, and I don’t understand the collaboration anymore now.
The crisis of conscience will come into play when these drop (particularly if a green colorway is released). Any Dipsy could tell you that the Dum English Astronaut shares genetics with my beloved Telegrinnies. Also: the jetpack-cum-base is a clever design. I guess it’s a case of hate the player, not the toy?
“Crisis of conscience”? I have lost all respect for Ron English, to collaborate with such a women beating douchebag is beyond me. I was hoping the album cover was a one time thing, but obviously Ron is totally ok with Chris Brown. Hitting a woman or child is not a mistake, it is not ok under any circumstances and is a complete and utter reflection of what kind of person you are deep down. Not to go on a rant here but I work with underprivelidged youth and last Friday had to console a crying ten year old girl about why her stepdad punchs her mom all of the time and her mom won’t leave him. Something to chew on Ron English, when kids see someone they look up to like Chris Brown and see that he beat up his girlfriend they most likely don’t stop liking him and they might think this is an acceptable behavior in life. Absolutely disgusting, but hey at least Ron has a little more cash in the bank. I hope you sleep well tonight.
Hey im, late bit I read you and chris doinvg a collabo . The toys are nice and will drop on may 2nd my birthday. Awesome will therr be any in houston tx. If so I want one.
I like this toy! It seems fun and fresh.
Funny, I just showed (in SF, in March) all new astronaut themed shirt designs. (you can see them on my website under custom shirts) some NSFW
I see them as time traveling adventurers going forth into many pasts, presents and futures. It’s purely escapist design-
landscapes, adventurescapes,
graphicscapes and character mutationscapes.
For starters. ha!
-A
PS- I hate that Chris Brown and I don’t understand that whole collaborative scene.