12" AAPE Shit (ComplexCon '18)

ToyQube & Gallery is located in Flushing, New York, straight out of the Q borough. The big apple is right in the heart of the exploding toy scene. Many of the most sought after artist/designers originated from these very streets. You might notice that many of out products seem to be influenced by street culture, TQ represents this in the fullest. We bring you not only designer vinyl toys and other collectable figures, but we also carry kicks, clothing, and other gear that comes with the lifestyle. Most of our toys come directly from Japan, Hong Kong and other European countries - too many to name. And of course we carry a variety of figures by local designers in the states. We are just trying to satisfy everyone from the vinyl collectors to the sneaker heads. A Japanese streetwear brand that was founded in 1993 by Tomoaki Nagao, also known as Nigo. The brand is known for its bright, flashy aesthetic and has deep connections to hip-hop and street culture. BAPE's name is a satirical take on the Japanese idiom "A bathing ape in lukewarm water," which describes someone who overindulges. The brand's logo includes a reference to the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. BAPE's iconic camo print is a graphic that blends military camouflage and an abstraction of the ape face. Steven Harrington lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. Aside from co-owning and operating National Forest Design, he still finds time to work on both commissioned and self-inspired art projects of his own. Influenced by images, fashion and graphics discovered in Time Life Encyclopedias from 1965-1972, thrift stores, and The Moody Blues, his art might be termed contextual objectivism. That is, he views each piece he creates as a tangible object that is part and parcel of a larger context; the object helps define the context and the context helps define the object. Whatever feel or meaning the observer takes away from the piece belongs to the observer. Nothing is shoved down his or her throat. Discovery is the key. Some of his most recent projects include a three board, custom-shaped signature series for Element Skateboards, contributions to the French clothing line Sixpack France, a collaboration with Nike SB, contributions to Arkitip Magazine, a special 3-d piece with Kidrobot and a series of silkscreen prints based on the idea of “connectivity.” He has exhibited work in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Barcelona, Tokyo, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Montreal, Melbourne and Dallas.