Amrit Pal Singh's Toy Face Tour evokes nostalgia and childlike wonder

Like most children—etched somewhere deep in my memory—is the impression of engaging with toys of all shapes and sizes. 

My childhood bedroom was decked with shelves filled with dolls, puppets, Lego blocks and board games. While I was oblivious to their colour, texture and other details, there came a sheer joy while I was 'toying' around without a care in the world.

This element of nostalgia and play forms the centrepiece of visual artist, 3D illustrator and art director, Amrit Pal Singh's first solo art show, Toy Face Tour, presented by Method (an independent creative art space in Mumbai's art district, Kala Ghoda) and HEFTY.art (a curator driven art marketplace).

The showcase—set up at  STIR, DLF Chattarpur Farms—in Delhi features a series of toy face artwork inspired by iconic pop culture references Charlie Chaplin, Frida Kahlo and Godfather, among others. 

Here, Singh presents eight new toy faces in an official collaboration with MF Husain Estate. He has continued to add to the set of Toy Face artwork that he first began creating in 2020. 

While I have read much about digital art and NFTs, this was the first time I saw art being presented in a physical art collector's toy room. The space could be likened to a candy store–throngs of visitors were awestruck at the detailing of each toy face. There was so much colour all around, instantly uplifting patrons who visited the space on what would otherwise be a ordinary Friday evening. 

While the Toy Face Tour is currently running in Delhi, it will soon travel to Mumbai and Bengaluru. 

YS Life caught up with Singh to understand the motivation behind the show, what sets it apart, and about the future of NFTs in the space of art. 

Walking down memory lane 

For over a decade, Singh has collaborated with a range of prolific clients including Google, Netflix and Pinterest, designing everything from mobile apps and picture books to card games and digital toys. 

It was in February 2021 that he minted his first NFT–the Frida Toy Face which sold for 3.9 ETH. 

On being asked why he chose to express his creativity through toy faces, Singh shares, "Toy Faces started as an illustration project in 2020. I wanted to create a diverse set of illustrations that designers and companies could use in their work. Soon after the launch, the pack took off and I started getting commissions. That's how it transformed into an art project."

The pandemic was marked by an air of doom and gloom. Singh wanted to create something to spread cheer. 

"Nostalgia is an effective medium and I know there is no better tool than toys to evoke childlike wonder during these challenging times. This was a time when people were stuck at home and the relevance of digital identity was stronger than ever," he says. 

While he dabbles in various artistic mediums, Singh has a soft spot for 3D illustrations. "That's a medium I am most comfortable with. It almost feels like I am playing with something," he mentions. 

Unleashing creativity through art 

Each toy face is carefully crafted to represent the subject's characteristics in a whimsical manner, says Singh. 

"There's a lot of research involved in the way I decide how I will represent a particular toy face,” he says, “I pay special attention to the colours and patterns on each portrait, using them to enhance the toy-like aesthetic.”

While many of his toy faces may seem similar, Singh knows how to make each creation distinct. With the use of different props, accessories, hairstyles or other elements, each of his pieces stands out from the rest. Once this is done, he moves to colouring and texturing–his favourite part in the process. 

Singh also admits to having favourites. "The Samurai Toy Face is so close to my heart, because it goes against the grain. It's all neon. Plus, it's adorable unlike any other samurai you will ever see,” he says.

Interestingly, each of the pieces in the Toy Room have also been built by him and are available for purchase. 

Each Toy Face and Toy Room is priced at 3 ETH (approx Rs 5 lakhs). 

The last word  

Through the Toy Face Tour, Singh wants to give his audience a tangible experience. It also coincides with his 100th NFT drop. 

"It's also one of the rare occasions when digital art is getting a platform like this. I am excited to introduce this medium in a new light to traditional art audiences," he confesses. 

But are NFTs the future of art? 

"NFT is a great medium for all artists, especially those who dabble in digital art. It's here to stay and I see with time, mass adoption will make it unstoppable," Singh concludes. 

The Toy Face Tour will be running in STIR, DLF Chattarpur Farms in Delhi until May 14, after which it will travel to Method Kala Ghoda in Mumbai from June 8 to June 25. Bengaluru will be hosting the Toy Face Tour between July 7 and July 23 in Church Street Social.