Pharrell Williams's latest foray into the design industry has proven to be a hit in Toronto, where the music and fashion mogul's curated exhibition "This Is Not A Toy" has opened at the city's Design Exchange (DX) museum.
The Grammy Award winner's first major museum curation, the show explores the conceptual toy as a fine art and design object through a vibrant mixture of music, video, vinyl, art and sculpture. Taking its name from the disclaimer found on packaging of everyday objects, the exhibition is part merchandise, part art.
Highlights include "The Simple Things," a vibrant sculpture created by Williams, Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and jeweler Jacob Arabo. First unveiled during Art Basel in 2009, the blinged-out fiberglass and metal installation has previously been displayed at London's Tate Museum, Paris's Chateau de Versailles and Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art.
Art collective Friends With You is well represented though an animated short film, "Cloudy," and its custom sculpture "Rainbow Vortex." Visitors can also listen to interviews with artists such as Huck Gee and Kaws, whose imposing wooden sculpture "Better Knowing" is one of the show's key pieces.
Stop-motion videos, paintings and prized items from Williams's personal art collection complete the exhibition. Guests also get an exclusive look at how vinyl toys are made and customized.
"This Is Not A Toy," curated by Pharrell Williams, John Wee Tom and Sara Nickelson, is on display at the Design Exchange from Friday through May 19.
