
Jason Freeny updates his fans of the daily progress he’s making in reconstructing the innards of a multitude vinyl toys. Mario, Coarsetoys Jaws, Care Bears, and even the ubiquitous Munny get their insides anatomically re-invisioned and sculpted in clay, creating a more introspective version of its former self. The dexterity and precision of Jason’s creations are what most impresses us, while his ability to recreate the intestines, lungs, and kidneys of these toys, is comical, absurd, and awesome.
Upon finding Jason, his perspective seemed like the perfect mental backflip from the plasticized, aesthetically-driven world of vinyl toys. The world of urban vinyl is a scene whose three-dimensionality and accessibility is the crux of its allure. Artists ideas are given life, in that they exist beyond the canvas as a toy, sculpture, or figurine. The logical extension of this 3D extrapolation, becomes the inquisition involved with Jason’s journeys into the souls of these hollow-art-spawn mutations. We’re excited to take a look inside.
If you’re an artist who is interested in getting involved with IPaintMyMind, submit your work here. We would love to hear from you, and potentially feature you in an interview of your own!
EL: So, I don’t remember exactly how we came across your work, but as soon as I saw the rubix brain, I was intrigued… explain that project to us if you would…
JF: I try to come up with different projects each week or two using different toys. That week it was a rubix cube. I like to customize toys that aren’t usually on people’s radar. I wanted to sculpt something that was smart, no pun intended.
EL: Is the rubix brain available for purchase?
JF: The brain cube is in it’s early production phase. Hope for it to be available by end of this year…
EL: From reading your bio, we know that you traveled a lot in the 90’s doing murals, and that you made the leap to work as a freelance designer for MTV… How did those experiences inform your own idea of how you best fit into the art world?
JF: It helped me understand how art is used at a corporate level. It also helped me realize I didn’t really enjoy painting murals. My time at MTV was a blast. I really enjoy working in television. Love the energy, lights and the vibe.
EL: Your work is playful… you also have experience working for a toy company… is that levity something you need to be part of the work, or is it just the function of your personality being accessible through your work?
JF: I think the playfulness has always been there, working as a toy designer really brought it to the surface.
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