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toyism is a 9 artist collaboration including artists from around the globe. natalie saiph massone writes about the movement and the artists.

THE GAMES GOES ON

Since their first exhibition in 1993, at the Veenmuseum in Emmen, Holland , the Toyism movement has progressively grown, building a solid foundation for Toyist art. The appealing characteristics of Toyist paintings involve the use of bright, lively, intense colors. The colors’ energy, along with lines, dots and shapes, are used to convey deep meanings through a playful point of view. Toyist art reveals a strong consciousness of not only the issues that globally afflict our time, but the joy we experience in life... From ecology and environmental pollution to our love of the earth and animals... From conflicts of war, yet the hope for world peace... From the inner struggles of the individual, to the strive for self-improvement. These contrasts are expressed through symbols, bright colors, and meticulous detail. Toyism clearly places itself against the Ego that our society has over-developed. This is also the reason why all the Toyist artists paint under a pseudonym…they appear as anonymous, yet are part of the whole of Toyism, whom they represent through their paintings, and the cartoon figures they embody. This is part of the game.

Dejo, the founder of Toyism, explains: “In 1992 a group of three artists, now expanded to nine, formed an aesthetic around the idea of toys and play. Rejecting the recent emphasis on ego in art, they wrote a manifesto called "Mother”, and used this as their watchword for, "Art through the mind of a Toyist". Their style is figurative, colourful and precise, the images like fragments of a fairy tale. The artists use pseudonyms and masks to hide their true identities, all the while continuing to create work under their real names as well. They are identified with nicknames like "Pixy", "Toescat", and "Jaf'r". Artists who want to join the group are required to visit the Toyism Studio in Emmen, the Netherlands , before they can be accepted. Presently, there are five Dutch artists, one South African, one Italian and two Americans that comprise the group.“

The art game played in Toyism is a serious matter. This sort of “playing” is intended to open up the viewers mind, to a new, critical and sensitive vision of the world. In effect, one of the most common factors among Toyists are their open minds, in which they face other cultures, other artists and their own Toyist role…In Toyism, you must learn a new language: how to read and write through lines and dots, and how to use the colors and shapes to convey the story, the painting is supposed to tell. Each painting brings a new game and a new story to be told and read by the public. In addition, the artists can play this art-making game alone or with other toyists. There are also multi-toyist artworks, in which a series of several paintings are combined to make one large piece…to make it whole. On these occasions, the viewer can clearly perceive the game played by the artists and takes an active part in it, since his role is definitively to untie the knots of the toyist puzzle and read through its symbols. Toyism has developed a very unique art style and a strong concept for an “art-group” that is totally new in the contemporary art panorama. Communication, poetry, emotion, and beauty are only some of the main aspects of Toyism that have appealed to the artists who joined the group within the years.

Iffio‘s artwork is absolutely delightful, and perfectly matches her positive attitude toward the world. “I love to see and visit other cultures and travel frequently with my backpack and sketch book. Diving is one of my favourite sports, being underwater is so unrealistic and delightful.”

Jaf’r, another Toyist, is attracted to Toyism mainly because of the technical complexity of the style. He writes, “A Toyistic painting has to tell something, should not be too explicit, and above all, it has to be beautiful! Another aspect of Toyism that I like very much is that we work as a group, which is very special, because the art world is all about the self. Every time I am delighted to see new paintings of the other Toyists, painted in their different styles, within one style!" Jaf’r always searches for a particular match of colors; he never uses too many, only a selective few to convey the meaning of the piece, in a bright and dynamic way.

Initially, Fihi was attracted by Toyism because of the resemblance with her own style of painting. Then, she began to be more and more involved with the Toyist way of making art. “I like to choose subjects for my paintings in which I find interesting in form, color, or meaning… For me, that usually comes from nature… the beauty of animals, plants, and sometimes in relation to humans. At times, I like to give the painting a message to help people become more conscious about life issues.”

Toyism appealed to Sassy, in a similar way. Her artwork is an absolute explosion of color and energy. Sassy is particularly attracted by the language and symbols… With that in mind, she is very careful in the composition of the painting’s elements. “Toyism involves contemplating radical ideas, while advertently posing questions and evoking emotion… When painting "toyistically", the placement of elements must be intentional and symbolic. In essence, the iconography of the work functions as language, representing specific ideas and feeling. My obsession grows exponentially, the further I delve deeper into this process.”

toyism is a 9 artist collaboration including artists from around the globe. natalie saiph massone writes about the movement and the artists.
THE GAMES GOES ON Since their first exhibition in 1993, at the Veenmuseum in Emmen, Holland , the Toyism movement has progressively grown, building a solid foundation for Toyist art. The appealing characteristics of Toyist paintings involve the use of bright, lively, intense colors. The colors’ energy, along with lines, dots and shapes, are used to convey deep meanings through a playful point of view. Toyist art reveals a strong consciousness of not only the issues that globally afflict our time, but the joy we experience in life... From ecology and environmental pollution to our love of the earth and animals... From conflicts of war, yet the hope for world peace... From the inner struggles of the individual, to the strive for self-improvement. These contrasts are expressed through symbols, bright colors, and meticulous detail. Toyism clearly places itself against the Ego that our society has over-developed. This is also the reason why all the Toyist artists paint under a pseudonym…they appear as anonymous, yet are part of the whole of Toyism, whom they represent through their paintings, and the cartoon figures they embody. This is part of the game. Dejo, the founder of Toyism, explains: “In 1992 a group of three artists, now expanded to nine, formed an aesthetic around the idea of toys and play. Rejecting the recent emphasis on ego in art, they wrote a manifesto called "Mother”, and used this as their watchword for, "Art through the mind of a Toyist". Their style is figurative, colourful and precise, the images like fragments of a fairy tale. The artists use pseudonyms and masks to hide their true identities, all the while continuing to create work under their real names as well. They are identified with nicknames like "Pixy", "Toescat", and "Jaf'r". Artists who want to join the group are required to visit the Toyism Studio in Emmen, the Netherlands , before they can be accepted. Presently, there are five Dutch artists, one South African, one Italian and two Americans that comprise the group.“	The art game played in Toyism is a serious matter. This sort of “playing” is intended to open up the viewers mind, to a new, critical and sensitive vision of the world. In effect, one of the most common factors among Toyists are their open minds, in which they face other cultures, other artists and their own Toyist role…In Toyism, you must learn a new language: how to read and write through lines and dots, and how to use the colors and shapes to convey the story, the painting is supposed to tell. Each painting brings a new game and a new story to be told and read by the public. In addition, the artists can play this art-making game alone or with other toyists. There are also multi-toyist artworks, in which a series of several paintings are combined to make one large piece…to make it whole. On these occasions, the viewer can clearly perceive the game played by the artists and takes an active part in it, since his role is definitively to untie the knots of the toyist puzzle and read through its symbols. Toyism has developed a very unique art style and a strong concept for an “art-group” that is totally new in the contemporary art panorama. Communication, poetry, emotion, and beauty are only some of the main aspects of Toyism that have appealed to the artists who joined the group within the years.	Iffio‘s artwork is absolutely delightful, and perfectly matches her positive attitude toward the world. “I love to see and visit other cultures and travel frequently with my backpack and sketch book. Diving is one of my favourite sports, being underwater is so unrealistic and delightful.” Jaf’r, another Toyist, is attracted to Toyism mainly because of the technical complexity of the style. He writes, “A Toyistic painting has to tell something, should not be too explicit, and above all, it has to be beautiful! Another aspect of Toyism that I like very much is that we work as a group, which is very special, because the art world is all about the self. Every time I am delighted to see new paintings of the other Toyists, painted in their different styles, within one style!" Jaf’r always searches for a particular match of colors; he never uses too many, only a selective few to convey the meaning of the piece, in a bright and dynamic way. Initially, Fihi was attracted by Toyism because of the resemblance with her own style of painting. Then, she began to be more and more involved with the Toyist way of making art. “I like to choose subjects for my paintings in which I find interesting in form, color, or meaning… For me, that usually comes from nature… the beauty of animals, plants, and sometimes in relation to humans. At times, I like to give the painting a message to help people become more conscious about life issues.” Toyism appealed to Sassy, in a similar way. Her artwork is an absolute explosion of color and energy. Sassy is particularly attracted by the language and symbols… With that in mind, she is very careful in the composition of the painting’s elements. “Toyism involves contemplating radical ideas, while advertently posing questions and evoking emotion… When painting "toyistically", the placement of elements must be intentional and symbolic. In essence, the iconography of the work functions as language, representing specific ideas and feeling. My obsession grows exponentially, the further I delve deeper into this process.”