Umaou Chaos Brown

Self-produced art toys are designer collectibles created and manufactured independently by the artist or small teams without the backing of a large toy company or mass-market brand. These toys are often highly personal, artistic expressions and are usually made in limited runs. Key Characteristics include independent creation where the artist is in control of the entire process from concept, sculpting, and painting to production and packaging. These are usually made in small batches, often 10–100 pieces, which adds to their rarity, made using materials like resin, sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), or 3D-printed components. Mori Katsura is the one-man army known as Real x Head. He started producing his own line of Soft Vinyl toys in 2003 and has never looked back. Known for his original character designs, inventive color-ways and unique form factors, he has released thousands of figures in hundreds of color variations. In 2008 he opened his own toy shop - Shinto Gangu - in the working class suburbs of Tokyo where he grew up. His mini one-eyed fortune cat has been a crossover hit bringing new fans into the collectively addictive world of Japanese Soft Vinyl toys. In addition to continuing to pump out his own creations and collaborating with artists in Japan and around the world, he is actively nurturing the next wave of Japanese Soft Vinyl artists. Uamou, a lovable, round-headed creature with adorable, minimalist facial features and a variety of expressions. Uamou’s simple, yet endearing design has made it a favorite in the designer toy community, and the brand has expanded to include various characters and themes within its universe. Ayako Takagi’s goal is to expand the world of UAMOU through picture books, figures, animation and jewellery, bridging the gap between the character movement and art/design. From a young age she was greatly influenced by her parents who were both jewellers. Growing up in a creative environment, Ayako had always been interested in drawing and making things. Whilst studying in London she started making and selling UAMOU products throughout Europe. After graduating from Camberwell College of Arts she moved back to Japan where she is working as an artist and designer on the international stage.