Light Blown Away Bobby

ANATOY is a South Korean art toy platform that uniquely blends anatomical design with storytelling to explore personal and societal complexities. Developed by DanDesign Inc., ANATOY features a series of modular figures, each representing individuals confronting various mental or physical challenges. The platform aims to foster empathy and self-awareness by encouraging users to reflect on and share their own experiences through these customizable toys. At the heart of ANATOY is the idea of “the complex”—the internal struggles and insecurities that people often face. Each figure is designed with an anatomical structure, symbolizing the transparency and vulnerability associated with confronting one’s issues. The toys consist of 12 swappable parts connected via articulated joints, allowing for personalization and expression of individual journeys toward overcoming personal challenges. Los Angeles based artist Josh Mayhem's lifelong habit of collecting children's playthings has fueled his passion for transforming said toys into objects d'art. Among his best-known pieces are those constituting his “Blown Away” series, in which mass-produced forms are covered in strands of resin and layers of acrylic paint to create gravity-defying drips that give the impression of the work being deconstructed by a strong wind. The popularity of this aesthetic has led to Mayhem winning the Custom of the Year (Fan) award at the 2019 Designer Toys Awards, multiple releases with the many of the worlds top designer toy artists and producers, participating in TRASHed: Art of Recycling at Coachella Festival, and solo exhibitions at Clutter Gallery in Beacon NY, Bruce Lurie Gallery in Los Angeles CA (as well as an artist residency) , PIQ Grand Central Terminal in NYC, and The Crown Collection Gallery in both Denver and Los Angeles. In the process of creating his coveted sculptural works, Josh Mayhem uses gallery-quality canvases as drop cloths. As each becomes decorated with an accumulation of colorful drips, patterns begin to emerge in the artist's mind. Augmenting each one with coatings of synthetic resin and additional paint splashes, these works