Yes, No, Maybe

I chose the phenomenon of toys and toy collection as the focus for a discussion about what is and isn't considered art.. Specifically I'm choosing to focus on a particular toy company called Sideshow Collectibles. The work that Sideshow produces is figural and encompasses a wide range of characters from popular culture, be it from film, tv or comic books. Most of the work they manufacture is produced in 1/6 scale, however, they also produce life-size figures as well. The thing that stands out to me when looking at these figurines compared to other collectibles is the fine attention to detail. Many of the products they produce look so life-like that it is hard to tell the difference between the real thing just by looking at images of the figurines on the website. Sideshow has a team of expert design artists, sculptors, model makers, painters and costumers that work together to create these intricately detailed likenesses. The company has also forged collaborative relationships with Hollywood filmmakers and special effect houses to enhance the realism of their products. I referred to these figures as toys because of the fact that many of them are fully articulated, however many of the pieces are static and serve more as a piece of fine art. In fact Sideshow considers their work as a form of contemporary art.

I would consider the products that Sideshow produces to be art. The products although reproduced, they are not replicated to a mass audience. each mini sculpture is hand painted and some of the figures have hand crafted costumes. The price of these products also reflects the the time and effort to create these works. Prices range from $150 to over $8000. The web page has some very cool video tours of their studio and artist profiles that give the viewer a glimpse into the creative process behind these amazingly realistic collectibles or "toys".

These sculptures are not meant to be viewed in a gallery space such as other forms of contemporary art. This may or may not change peoples' perception of whether or not it could be considered fine art. Personally, I don't see much of a difference between one of these collectibles and a limited edition art print. In fact, I could argue that because these figures are individually hand painted, they are in essence one of a kind. The debate about whether or not to include or exclude these crafted figures into discussions about art and aesthetics is an interesting one and one I think would make for interesting dialogic inquiry in the art room

Characteristics that, in my opinion, make these figures art are the level of craftsmanship employed by artist to produce such highly detailed likenesses and the sculptural quality of the figures. The fact that they capture the likenesses of pop culture characters and part of such a niche market makes the discussion all the more interesting. In my mind, there is no question that these products are art. Whether or not they could be considered fine art or contemporary art is another question and one I think is worth exploring.