Pioneering vinyl toy artist Michael Lau is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his Crazy Children series with  the release of a 12″ Crazy Children King, aka Child F. Included with the 12″ figure are a cardboard-box throne, crown, cloak, slipper, and a miniature Crazy Michael figure clutched in the hand of the Crazy Children King. Priced at $3300 HKD ($425 USD) and limited to just 800 pieces, the vinyl CC King will be available through crazysmiles.com starting September 29th.

Release Date: September 29th, 2011 (Thursday)

It is an all Hong Kong affair as the two talents from the city combine their skills on the latest set entitled 270°. Almost Normal is a jewelry and watch brand by Florance Yip and their new collection is inspired by an owl, who is able to rotate its head 270 degrees at will. The timepieces are made in silver, gold and pink gold colorways, the former two versions limited to 79 pieces and the latter only 39 pieces. The stainless steel watch is accented by Swarovski crystals and leather wrist bands, along with Japanese automatic movement that keeps the watch ticking. Each watch is accompanied by a 16cm high, vinyl figure made by Michael Lau and Colette is stocking these sets on their retail store and online shop.

colette
213 Rue Saint-Honoré | Map 
75001 Paris, France

The beauty in Nike‘s “Just Do It” statement is its simplicity. 3 words that in different contexts alternates from a forceful command to a uncomplicated question, making it one of the most celebrated marketing motto. In the same essence, Nike wants to highlight those who answered the call. Instead of “Just Do It”, these athletes accomplished the impossible and forever secured a place in annal of human spirit. In other words, they went ahead and “Just Done It”.

Unveiled early this morning at Nike Hong Kong‘s Just Do It media summit, The Field House is a temporary exhibition hosted by the brand with a Swoosh this summer. At heart of the exhibit is “Just Done It”, the centerpiece of the exhibition done by toy designer Michael Lau. Homage to Eric Catona, Steve Prefontaine, Lance Armstrong, and last but not least, Michael Jordan, Lau creatively rendered each athletes’ achievements in different mediums, from ink on wood work done with ball point pens to the 5-meter tall sculpture, La Main Gauche De Dieu, or Left Hand of God.

The exhibition also include works from KAON and an interactive display where visitors can blow on a whistle to stop a recorded soccer game at mid play. To found out more and take part of the festivities, just visit Nike: The Field House at Kowloon’s Secure House event space.

Photography: Masa for Freshness

Nike: The Field House
G/F & 1/F, Secure House | Map
68 How Ming Street
Kwun Tong, Kowloon Hong Kong

Exhibition Date: July 5th, 2011 (Tuesday) – August 16th, 2011 (Tuesday)

Hong Kong fans been overwhelmed by the various items released as designer Michael Lau busied himself this holiday season. The latest is the is the Crazymichael Black figurine, which was limited to 299 pieces only.   If you have missed out the opportunity to order, there a select few resellers over the Internet willing to take orders.  But only from December 24th to January 2nd, after the first deliveries have completed. The obvious distinction of this piece is the all black body and straight jacket with contrasting white eyes and teeth. Also this figure wears the blacked out Air ‘Crazy’ Force 1 that actually functions. via: crazytoyzLIFE

Art Basel 2010 is well past us; the hangovers are gone, the deals are done, and the Gazillionaire Art Collector set has decamped. One thing that some people might have missed amid all the hubbub was the presence of the urban vinyl segment in Miami, most notably Freshness-favorite Michael Lau. Lau, along with a selection of fellow vinyl artists including Pete Fowler, 123Klan, and Matt Waldman of Nooka, was recruited by guitar-maker Gibson for an installation called Art Assault, which called on these artists to customize a Gibson Kramer Assault 211FR Guitar. Lau’s approach was to forgo any obfuscation, and transform the guitar into it’s most stripped down form. His inspiration was drawn from the creative process through which he creates his toys – starting with un-colored gray or white paper or sculpture. By keeping this theme of first creative steps, the guitar Lau designed emphasizes the raw creative power of the instrument. All of the guitars are being auctioned off soon to benefit the charitable Gibson Foundation. Check out Lau’s guitar after the jump.

Toy heavy weight from Hong Kong, Michael Lau, is going back to his roots as he sets to release a limited Crazymichael 12-inch action figure. Back in 1998, when Lau was still an unknown, made his mark by hand-made 12 inch action figures.  It sold out immediately and created a buzz for his subsequent releases. All of which headed for the same “sold out” fate. In celebration of his Gardener Series’ 10th year,  Lau partnered with Hot Toys in manufacturing the new Crazymichael 12-Inch. Limited to 499 pieces produced with each retails at HK$1,999. Sale will commence on Saturday, December 11th at noon in Times Square, Causeway Bay and Lau will also be present at the launch from 12 pm to 3pm.

Times Square
2/F, Atrium | Map
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong

Release Date: December 11th (Saturday) | 12 pm – 3 pm

Opening this week at Times Square Hong Kong is a new Michael Lau exhibit entitled CRAZYX’MAS. The exhibit, which runs through December 26th, is an experiential showcase of Lau’s characters and imagination, on a massive scale. Honk Kong-based Lau is a Godfather of urban vinyl art, known for several families of characters, many of which figure into this exhibit – including his Gardener, Crazychildren, SFCC, and Mr.Shoe figure – which are all household names to Michael Lau fans. The show incorporates a number of mediums, including larger-than-life toys, enormous spray-cans, re-purposed skateboard decks, illustrations, and balloon that recall Jeff Koons. This is truly a must see for anyone in Hong Kong during the show. via J.ME. and East Touch.

Times Square Hong Kong
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong | MAP

Exhibition Date: November 16th (Tuesday) – December 26th (Sunday)

2007 saw the first collaboration project between Michael Lau and Hong Kong brand fingercroxx. So three years later the duo is back at it again. Information is scarce at the moment but it could be another capsule collection and various colorways should be released by looking at the photos. The vinyl figure looks like some sort of monster with its fingers crossed to represent fingercroxx. One clue to the project could be the “DPTY” printed on the t-shirt of the toy. More information to follow as it gets revealed. via: crazytoysLIFE

Back in 2008, Nike SB worked with Hong Kong vinyl artist, Michael Lau, on a special 2008 Beijing Olympics BMX Blazer Premium that was released in a special vinyl box with a toy Lau created. The pair that was released for retail came in a Yellow and Red colorway that is commonly associate with China. However it seems Nike SB and Michael Lau also created this other White colorway of the shoe that features many of the same details as the Yellow pair including the “20″ and “08″ on the back of the left and right shoe respectively. A pair of samples the White colorway were on display this past week during Michael’s MiXTRA Shoe Shop Mr. Shoe Exhibition in Hong Kong.

The ever-busy toy maker Michael Lau has a new exhibition up his sleeves. Unlike his standard exhibitions that are held at his very own Michael Gallery in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, the location for the upcoming exhibition has been changed to the newly opened MiXTRA Shoe Shop in the new art mall, K11. The “Mr. Shoe Sample Exhibition” is as titled, an exhibition which show cases the collection of Mr. Shoe toys by Michael Lau. It is also interesting to know that MiXTRA Shoe Shop is the biggest tenant in K11, so there is a possibility that the exhibition will be a large in store display. The exhibition will run from Friday, July 16th to Sunday, August 1st; and by the looks of the flyer, there will be plenty to see at the exhibition.

Many months after the celebration of the initial launch of the Gardener 10th figures by Michael Lau, we are surprised with yet more figures that fans would love to get there hands on. The LA Blue & White Set is self explanatory in its naming and features LA Dodgers colorways through out the four collaborative Gardener figures. Included in the set is LA Fat, De La Barracuda, The Hundreds and Slamxhype. All figures are wearing blue pants, white tops and brown sneakers accented with grey faces or white faces. These are planned for Asia only release in 50 compete sets that is sold at ZINC art space. via: MINDstyle

It seems that The Hundreds had this one up their sleeves since the 10th Anniversary of Michael Lau‘s Gardener series. This black version of the Adam Bomb Gardener figure will be dropped soon yet the exact date is not publicized however it can be expected to be limited in numbers and also there will be release of matching t-shirts in black or white colors sporting the photo print of the figure on the front and rear with the participating brand logos below it. Stay tuned for the release date as it will surely be sooner than later.