LUXSTAR ‘Innergalaktik’ is a collaborative project of Dacosta! aka. CHOCOLATE SOOP® and Frazer Adams of FRAZER CREATIVE. The show is the journey of 2 characters and the world they inhabit. With special guest: Nate Mitchell aka. SQUID KIDS INK, LUXSTAR ‘Innergalaktik’ is a mash up of digital and analogue, graphics and sculpture, animation and audio, and will explore existing and emerging elements of pop-culture from all corners of the galaxy.
September 6-28, 2013
2206 Main Street, Vancouver BC
For the last few months I’ve been working with 3D master Glen Southern to bring load of my character designs to life. This vid is the first of many in the pipe.
I love hearing positive stories of DCTO’s impact on peoples lives. DCTO has a strong message, and that message was the main motivation in choosing to make it my first vinyl project. I think it was about a year ago or so that I received an email from a fellow named Antony Gusscott. He said he was a fan of my work and had bought DCTO, and it helped him accomplish one of his goals…
This character was created for the game ModNation Racers build by UFG (United Front Games) under Sony. I was lucky enough to have met the crew over at UFG a few years back. I was asked to come on as a consultant to bring some street level vinyl to the table…
Here’s a little 3D concept I built last year on Mad’s Madl. The final pieces were actually printed out on a Zcorp 510 in a few different sizes as test of the machine. Now a few live on my desk and a couple call Mad Toy Design home. Decided to do a quick animation to show it off. Steve Talkowski was kind enough to do me a quick render that I was able to slap into iMovie and voilà!
Sorry if the song gets stuck in your head all day. (hehe) Track snippet: ‘Chocolate’ – The Chenille Sisters
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This special edition Chibi-Charms was created for MONONOFU in Tokyo, Japan. MONONOFU’s store concept is all about the Sengoku era, a time filled with Shogun Lords, heroic samurai, and ninja. They were presenting their store products at Toubu, the largest department store in Japan and wanted an urban graphic for display. Since DCTO is a Zen icon, I used the Z in place of the S to blend the two ideas in ZENGOKU. This also marked the first official release of the DCTO Chibi Charms.
I was invited to the G-Robot artist mini series by Jukai x adFunture a little while back. Here are a few pics of my design. This little guy is name ‘SoulJah’…
The SNOBOTS KANIZA – a collabo between Kaniza-designer Keith Poon of ToyQube and Dacosta! (Me) aka.Chocolate Soop®.
The details are sketchy, but here’s what we know…
July 2007 CHOCOLATE SOOP™ proudly introduced its collectible 7″ vinyl art figure DCTO: Jibun Project (Dreams Come True Object) based on the ancient Japanese legend of Daruma, a 5th century monk and the founder of Zen Buddhism…
DCTO is a modern interpretation of an ancient Japanese Zen doll known as a Daruma doll. This curiously limbless, traditionally red-cloaked figure with unpainted eyes is used for personal dedication to a new venture such as starting a business, beginning a new path in life, or given as a gift for celebrations like New Years, weddings and birthdays. Painting in DCTO’s left eye shows commitment to a goal; once the goal is achieved, the right eye is then painted.
DCTO (‘dik-toe’) is designed to right itself when it is knocked over, reflecting the Japanese saying, ‘Nanakorobi yaoki’, “Fall 7 times, rise 8 times”. This reminds us that no matter the number of times we may stumble, those with a persistent heart will rise again to achieve their goals, symbolizing relentless dedication and an undaunted spirit.
~ In a modern, fast-paced world that is becoming increasingly virtual and complex, the DCTO: Jibun Project is a simple, tangible focus point on which to anchor one’s dreams and aspirations.~
December 2008, Chocolate Soop™ in association with JANM (The Japanese American National Museum) presented the first ever custom vinyl toy show ever held in a museum. The theme of the show was “Dreams to Dreams” and is based on the poem of the same title written by Dacosta! which speaks to possibilities of dreams. 49 artists from around the world customized DCTO for the event, and in celebration of Japanese New Year’s 2009. Artwork was displayed at the Museum through the month of December and through the Museum’s Oshogatsu celebration (a significant celebration in Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo area). Visitors where also treated to an educational and entertaining program about the significance of Daruma and other cultural icons for the New Year.
