Learn by experimenting and exploring: Interview with Tim Tsui, legendary urban vinyl designer & artist

Tim Tsui in front of Bling canvas

Interview by Angel Greenham:
Tim Tsui is one of the top players in the designer toy industry (a term used to describe toys and other collectibles that are produced in limited editions), his figures decked out in cool street wear and influenced by Hip-Hop, are extremely popular with collectors all around the world.

Tim has worked with huge clients like Coca Cola, Adidas, Nike and Royal Elastics and is a prominent attraction at all the leading toy fairs. Read on to find out how his experimental attitude has led to his success and what helps him boost his energy.

Bling vinyl figure by Tim Tsui

You’re always traveling around the world to different exhibitions and trade shows, tell me how do you cope with the fast paced lifestyle of being a high profile artist?

I really enjoy meeting my fans during events, Like SDCC (San Diego Comic Con), TTF (Taipei Toy Festival), and at some of my own exhibitions. Every time I go to these events, I have fun and take time to relax. I enjoy going swimming and when the sun is shining, I chill out at the pool side. Its great having drinks with my artist friends and meeting all my fans, all these things allow me to re-charge my energy and bring me great joy and happiness.

After having a few days holiday I get back to my base, then I start again creating my characters and sorting out some paper work. So, friends and fans are my energy, please don’t be shy when you see me at an event, just come and try to talk with me, I would really enjoy it so much.

Photo of Tim Tsui and Alice Chan by Ramond Kan

What other big toy fairs or events have you shown your work?

I had been invited to show my work at events around the world like, in the USA, France, UK, Japan and Taiwan for several years, and I’ve had a touring exhibition in LA, London and Paris. Apart from that, I’ve participated in live paintings at famous dept stores and Galleries like Lafayette in Paris.

Now I know you have a huge fan base yourself, but who are your hero’s?

No, I don’t have anyone special, I liked to explore things by myself, just like what the Salvador Dali said.” An artist is not one who is inspired, but one who can inspire others”

Da Minci GID, vinyl figure by Tim Tsui photo by Lin Ping Kuang/Amon

Tell me when you first set out on this creative path, did you have a strategy of how you were going to achieve success?

I don’t think becoming an artist is an easy path, I think mostly artists have a very hard life or have worked hard before they gain success, many people see others being successful and think its easy but they never hear how hard it is behind the scenes.

For me, I learned all the stuff myself by reading books or by experimenting, since I think you can only learn the best things by exploring them yourself, rather then just asking people how to make it or how to do it. I was lucky that, finally I did succeed, but I did spend a lot of time testing different things instead of enjoying myself, like going to the movies or to a concert or hanging out with friends.

Tim Tsui Artwork

I didn’t set any goals for myself, I just worked on the things which I liked to create or on expressing myself through my thoughts. I enjoy creating things which are surreal with a mix of lifestyle thrown in, that’s why I created an ape wearing hip hop clothes, which make him look almost human. I like to make things crazy but meaningful, that’s why I came up with the series Da Fighter, to tell people fight for your dreams, with respect and love.

Urban vinyl figure – Da Fighter by Tim Tsui

How do you think people view designer toys?

I hope people look at other artist’s characters and study the background of the figure instead of just looking at the price. Sometimes I see people get annoyed with artist’s work and they don’t seem to get their point of view, they don’t know the story behind it or understand the meaning the artist intended. I hope Art Toys can be respected and appreciated as a piece of art.

Tim Tsui Illustration

Were you creative as a child?

Well, I remember making a gun, it was simple, I used paper and made it really look like it was a gun. Then I tried to make it so it could shoot, using rubber band to become the bullet. I was already crazy even as a child.

What were you like at school?

I was a nice boy but a little bit wacky I think, I was always getting high marks during the art lessons, and also in other subject, I was quite good at sports and languages as well.

Did you experience any particular problems at the start of your creative career?

I have also had many barriers to overcome, I just try to solve them one by one. But, even now I still have many things i need to learn and explore. Many people only see the successful cases, but they haven’t seen many examples that have failed. So my advice is to try hard when you want to get something, getting annoyed is not going to help but hard work will move you forward.

Da Warrior vinyl figure by Tim Tsui

Do you ever abandon a piece of work or do you continue until you get it right?

I make sure all the things are perfected before its finally produced, so every pieces of my work is my best it can be, I do lots of fine tuning and sketches when I create stuff.

Tim Tsui Illustration

How do you handle negative attention?

If the comment can make me improve, I will learn from it and try to explore their point of view. Since different people had different minds, I cannot force everyone to agree with my thoughts, but I like to delve into it and try and understand their feedback.

What toy companies sell your work?

Lots of art toy shops around the world stock my products, like Kidrobot, Toyqube, Mixi-bang. Also some of the trendy fashion stores also carry my work like Colette in France and Loveless at Japan.

Tim Tsui urban vinyl figure

I know you were involved in a high profile project with Coca Cola can you tell me more about it?

The Coca Cola’s project was a great one for me, as it was the year China hosted the great Olympics games, and during the games, the traditional things is to exchange pins, Coca Cola just invited two Chinese artists to design their own style pins for this exchange scheme, and I’m was one of the artists they selected. So I had my character Da Minci on my pins, I had a total of 12 different styles and they sold as a set at the Olympics Village during the games. It’s a prestigious opportunity to make something for the Olympic Games and to represent China so I really enjoyed this project.

Coca Cola card by Tim Tsui

What other companies have you worked with?

Not many big companies because sometimes the work is too commercial and you can lose your freedom and have little control of the art and design, but I’ve still had the opportunity to work with Coca Cola, MTV, ADIDAS, Hasbro, Ryal Elastics, Do Co Mo and Tower Records.

Tim Tsui outdoor sculpture

As well as working in Urban Vinyl you have designed some large pieces out of wood for leading sports brand Li-Ning tell me more about this commission?

Yes I’ve collaborated with Li-Ning, for an Earth Day Celebration entitled, “We Love Our Earth.” Earth day is celebrated every year on 22nd April. For this installation, I recreated my iconic character Da Minci out of wood. Da Minci is 6 feet tall quite overwhelming, he’s my character Bling’s brother and bodyguard, plus he’s a part-time wrestle. I also created other figures wearing Li-Ning’s We Love Our Earth t-shirts. The event is hosted by Milk Magazine and the installation is on display at Li-Ning Flagship store in Beijing.

What would you say are the biggest benefits of this type of life?

I think it opens my eyes to new things. I’ve traveled to many different countries for my exhibitions and shows and I’ve learned so much from other countries culture, their art and people, this is the biggest benefit that I get, it’s important for my creatures that I see these things.

What are the 3 things that bring you the most happiness in your life in general?

I get the support of many fans and friends
I can create whatever I want.
I can do interviews with subvert magazine

Tim Tsui photo by Henry Wong

Interview by Angel Greenham

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