Instant Art (+ +) By Arkiv

Indonesian illustrator and graphic painter, Arkiv, has a flair for remixing popular cartoon characters and re-appropriating them with his own menacing twist. He has been crafting these curvaceous designs since ’05, and released his signature vinyl toy, Arkiv Instant, in mid ’09. The initial version was limited to 42 pieces worldwide, one for the heads.

“I’m a half animal and half dream. I’m a blend of an overweight panda and Killer whale. I eat kids and I drink blood. I’m instantly rude and 100% dirty. I sleep longer than any creation the world has ever seen, I sleep like a dead hero and no star. I talk rubbish and my breath smells like it.”

His aesthetic has often been compared to the critically acclaimed pioneer of the art toy realm, Kaws. But due to the ever changing world of art, and seeing as many of his figures are new combinations of classic cartoon elements, it is debatable which works are truly original, and which are ‘original fake’. He has also recently been commissioned by Disney Asia to redesign Mickey Mouse.

This relative newcomer shows a lot of promise, and according to his weblog, he has a number of interesting collabs and exhibitions in store for ’10. Keep your eye[s] peeled.