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Next weekend, a little figure named Munny will keep many Jakarta toy enthusiasts busy. The Plastic Culture toy collective will hold what is being billed as the Munny World Festival Indonesia 2011 at its store in Grand Indonesia. The festival hopes to gather toy fans from around the country with a host of events built around the theme of Munny.

Arguably one of the most popular creations from US toy company Kidrobot, Munny is a vinyl toddler-shaped figurine on whose blank surface designers are able to showcase their creativity. Over the last few years, the toy has become something of a gateway for many Indonesians getting into the world of designer toys.

“Beginning with the numerous workshops we’ve held since 2008, Munny has become the ‘canvas’ used by many local designers,” said Joshua Artono, who owns and runs Plastic Culture, and considers Munny one of the most popular “do-it-yourself platforms” for toy artists.

Joshua said Munny has inspired many to go beyond two-dimensional renderings and transform their imagination onto a 3D platform.

The Munny World Festival events will include Munny and designer toy exhibitions, as well as a live painting showcase by a variety of local and international artists. A Munny design competition will also be held, where contestants have to customize a V4 Munny, the fourth version of the character that stands at 18 centimeters and has movable arms and legs. According to Plastic Culture, a total prize of Rp 10 million ($1,100) is up for grabs.

Munny’s reach goes beyond that of other designer toys, primarily because of its simple physique. What the Munny ends up looking like reflects the creativity and personality of the artist decorating it. No two Munnys look alike.

“[While] designer toys are generally more interesting for art and toy fans for their collectable quality because of limited-edition production, Munny’s do-it-yourself angle makes it so that anyone is able to display their personalities,” Joshua said.

Some Munnys designed by well-known toy artists have also fetched high prices, as they’re considered “masterpieces” of the toy world, Joshua said.

Joshua and his colleagues in Plastic Culture also have their own nostalgic reasons for wanting to create a Munny-focused festival. For Joshua, the toy reminds him of his days as a student in Los Angeles, where he went to toy festivals to see how Munny’s blank canvas was being transformed into a variety of different and exciting art pieces.

“I bought one for myself and it rolled on from there,” he said.

It’s a feeling Joshua wants to share with other toy enthusiasts through the work of some of the country’s prominent artists.

The festival’s “Munny Custom Exhibition” will feature designer Munny’s customized by names such as Iwan Effendi, Koma (Indo), pinkversusblack, NOAH, Tellthem, Ykha Amelz, Godoftoy, Kong Andri, Freddy Chandra, Hendra “hehe” Harsono and the Popo.

There will also be a “Competition Showcase” where contestants’ works will be displayed for a full day for judges from Plastic Culture and representatives from other toy collectives such as My Tummy Toys and Happy Victim.

Joshua is most excited about Saturday’s “On-the-Spot Competition,” in which contestants will design a Munny live in a limited time slot. He is eager to see how the contestants will perform under pressure. He said that more than 100 contestants had signed up to take part in the event.

The festival will also showcase non-Munny works by local toy artists The Yellow Dino, cikcuk, Breeanzz, Marine Ramdhani, Thunderpanda, Bismarck Toy Lab, Arkiv, REEXP and Indieguerillas, under the banner “Indonesia Designer Toys Exhibition.”

Joshua thinks the show will be a chance for many toy artists, both established and aspiring, to feel fulfilled. “[Exhibiting] the work that’s been put into their toys will be something they can be proud of,” he said.

Munny World Festival Indonesia 2011 
Dec. 9-11
Plastic Culture
Grand Indonesia East Mall, level one 
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