The Urban Vinyl movement is an offshoot of the hip hop and youth-oriented popular culture. It often depicts real-life figures from Asian and American culture, particularly artists who perform in a hip-hop or related styles.
Noteworthy examples are Lau's depiction of the LMF rappers from Hong Kong, and figures based on the members of the virtual electronic band Gorillaz, produced by Jamie Hewlett and made by Kidrobot.
Urban vinyl is a type of designer toy, featuring action figures in particular, which are usually made of vinyl.
Although the term is sometimes used interchangeably with the term designer toy, it is more accurately used as a modifier: not all designer toys can be considered urban vinyl, while urban vinyl figures are necessarily designer toys, by virtue of the way in which they are produced.
Like designer toys in general, urban vinyl figures feature original designs, small production numbers, and are highly sought-after by collectors, predominantly adults.
The action figures are designed by artists and designers and the trend is erasing the boundaries between low culture and high art.
Unlike typical toys like Barbies or Hot Wheels, which are mass produced, Urban Vinyl Toys are sold in limited runs, often as low as 500 to 2,000 pieces, increasing the demand and the sense that these are original and unique pieces of art.
This is an important distinction and one of the differentiating characteristics of these Urban Vinyl's or designer "toys". They are often considered works of art rather than collectible toys.
These toys are like Pop Art or sculptures, Urban Vinyl toy seller Paul Budnitz said in a recent interview with The Sacramento Bee. "The canvas happens to be a toy. "
It was Kidirobot owner Paul Budnitz who introduced the American public to the Urban Vinyl trend that took Asia by storm in the late 1990's.
Kidrobot was on the cutting edge of this trend, and in February 2002 became the first website in the United States to deal exclusively in these designer toys
Urban vinyl toys are created by leading artists, graffiti artists, fashion designers, illustrators and more, and transcend the category of "toy" to become collectible art in their own right.
Urban Vinyl appears to be a movement of independent toy manufacturers and artists producing uniquely designed original toys. Some of the hottest urban toy artists or (designer vinyl artists) have their roots in 2-D art or where former graffiti artists and in many cases you can purchase a print to go along with your vinyl toy.
In essence what has happened is a new canvas has been given to artists. The mold has been broken and the pieces are scattering everywhere. Urban Vinyl is leading the charge in what has been dubbed the Designer Toy movement.
Companies like StrangeCo, Achy Breaky, Critter Box, and Friends with You produce are leading this new movement and create original Urban Vinyl and Designer Toys in many different flavors.
This is an important factor as not everyone can relate to a Lau, because they may not live the lifestyle depicted but now there is so many variation and different themes and creations that it's likely you'll find an artist and toy that will appeal to your taste.
Whether toy or collectible item, some of the figures have sold on websites, stores or auctions for as much as $10,000.
This acts as an indication of the volcanic popularity that Urban Vinyl figures and designer toys are enjoying and the trend doesn't seem to be relenting despite the current recession fears.
One of the more popular Urban Vinyl figures currently is the Kidirobot Dunny figure which is a collaboration between Budnitz and designer Tristan Eaton.
With minimalist features and a round rabbit-like shape, Dunny lends itself easily to custom design. Kidrobot gave out the Dunny figure to more than fifty artists to modify according to their own artistic voice.
The artistically modified, one of a kind Dunny creations, were featured in their own exhibition in New York from May 17-July 17 2004, where the work of leading illustrators, fine artists, graphic artists and animation experts from Dreamworks Animation Studios was also on display.
Although the Urban Vinyl action figure, commonly referred to as a VCD (Vinyl Collectible Doll), has been around since the early 90's it is only over the last few years that it has started to spill over into the mainstream collectors market.
These figures are highly collectible and limited and have been embraced by the art community and as a result have been unavailable to the mainstream action figure market.
However with more and more Urban Vinyl's finding there way onto eBay and the increased number of manufacturers it looks likely that there popularity will continue to grow for the unforeseeable future.
Written by Colin Dorman
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