The Celebration of Philippine Art. Part 1

Sari-Sari in Philippine Language means something diverse and multidimensional. The notion, among other things, is used to describe local shops, not only collecting everything one would need at home but also are focal points for local communities. This word is the perfect choice for the big collaborative project launched this November by Runit Decks. Bicycle Sari Sari is a playing card deck, each card designed by 55 prominent philippine artists, celebrating the diversity and vividness of modern philippine culture. These are graphic designers, graffiti artists, and (that is why we are here discussing this) toy designers. More than that, toy designers supported the project by developing toys-holders for the deck. We are thrilled to dive in. A user picture

Quiccs

The very king of the Philippine art toy scene himself took part in this project, and his card is (obviously) a King of Hearts. His recognisable silhouette, the TEQ63 OTOMO is residing on a throne-like settee, urban-style decorated, with some neighborhood views behind the figure and his logo on a top, and three stripes decorate the heart on a TEQ’s T-shirt, paying homage to the legendary collaboration with Adidas. Long before the deal, Quiccs decorated his toys with three stripes illegally, and how he is in his full right to place this pattern on his toys. Urban royalty, no less.

The toy for the deck (14’’ Alpha TEQ63) is prepared in a collaboration with Yarms and Danil YAD, as the figurine takes the familiar posture of their Authors Series. The toy is remodeled to the usual proportions of the Yarms toys, compared to the image on the card, but still the outfit and the helmet are the same. The figurine is handpainted and signed by Quiccs.

Creon Chkn Head

The well known chicken by Creon Chkn Head occupied the throne of the King of Spades. The artist is mindfully paying tribute to the playing card tradition, as his image is mirrored, still executing his signature colorful style for graphics. The King of Spades is imagined here as a kind of Mafia more than some noble royalty, smoking a cigar and gazing menacingly. Yet, still some king-ish elements remain, namely the imperial crown and medieval-styled shirt with a belt.

The toy is continuing the abstract card-styled line, as the figurine is depicted from the waist up. The toy has been posed as if he offers you a choice with his stretched out hands; the hands in question, by the way, are attachable, so the crowned chicken can be holding either decks or spades. Very witty.

Dondi Fernandez

Doberhand is a hallmark character of artist Dondi Fernandez. This one is a smart etude on how sighs and images are interrelated: there is a head of a dog replaced on a gesture as we usually depict a dog with our fingers. More than that, the image has a nostalgic undertone: during blackouts the artist and his relatives used to shadow play. On a card (Jack of clubs) the Doberhand has some old cartoon inspired visuals. The signature character in an author's personal declivous style also takes part as a deck-holder.

Stay tuned for part two.