I think GERMS post is on-point. The assumption that seems to be made by those arguing for recognition of JP vinyl as 'fine art' is that the designers/sculptors/painters of the toys actually seek recognition in this field. For the talent possessed by some of these individuals, I would then question why they chose to produce obscure monster toys rather than create 'art' if this was their intent. Moreover, if money is the issue, why is it that none of the toymakers raise their prices in response to the growing demand for their product? I am sure that Mori could be charging more than 3800 JPY on each RxH toy at this point, but he chooses not to do so.

While I recognize some overlap between art and toys in these cases (i.e., customs by Mark Nagata and other individuals), I wonder if the push for recognition of vinyl as 'fine art' is motivated by interests other than those of the creator.

Bingo! That is the question, isn't it? I think the answer is "yes," unmysteriou$ly.

There's no question that there's artistry to this craft. I know I'm not alone in thinking of neo/kaiju as Japanese Folk Art, but that's admittedly a postmortem assessment, pardon the grim metaphor. (I think of Lowrider customization as American Folk Art in a similar vein. So does the Smithsonian as it turns out.)

Despite some of my prior comments on this subject regarding curatorial contextualization, I'm not sure that what the auction house is doing is necessarily pushing to redefine the toys as fine art per se. They're just making a case for them co-existing in a general artsphere, so to speak.

I'm also skeptical that this will affect the markets that most of us "true" collectors wheel and deal and buy in. Flippers do and will continue to have a much more deleterious effect.

Good trades rule.

Who is this "Dean" and from where do you come?

While I'm newer to this than alot of you veterans, I feel like the term art toy was applied to urban, and western vinyl as a marketing gimmick to make money. And the term has stuck and people who want to profit are trying to stick it to kaiju. Is it art? In my opinion if you buy a signed limited seriagraph that's 51 of 200 and call it art, what's the difference between having a toy that's 35 of 200 and calling that art. Is it art, is it right, obviously I think people besides the creators are trying to use the medium to benefit themselves and that's all I can say for sure.
Any way if I were Hiddi and my toys that I created were on auction in New York next to Warhols and what people consider great pieces of art I'd be happy and proud of my creative vision, but that's just me.

I killed that dude with the unpronounceable name and took over his account. I'm going to melt all of his RxH figures as a sacrifice to Lord Bemon. Muhahaha!

Definitely a valid point of pride! When the SF Asian Museum hosted a traveling manga show last year, they borrowed some Japanese toys from a local collector as a related display, mostly Secret Base and BxH as I recall. Seemed totally appropriate, given the relationship between manga, TV/cinema, and toys in Japan.