We are pleased to hold the exhibition “Softvinyl Kaiju Exhibition” by HxS at MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY.

 

HxS is a self-proclaimed "softvinyl maker” that makes use of the molding technique of softvinyl inherited from his father to design, prototype, mold and color all on his own.

 

About 25 years ago, his father made an original “Kong” softvinyl toy and HxS took over the family business. He hoped to revive his father's cool Kong in the standard size and that was the beginning of the world of Gorilla-ju. After Gorilla-ju was born, it became necessary to have enemy characters to fight against it, so he continued to make original kaiju such as Mecha Gorilla-ju and Tirano-ju, and he continued to make new kaiju according to his own stories.

 

An outstanding feature of HxS is the perfection with his craftsmanship. He has aimed at softvinyl kaiju from the good old days, that even adults would love to play casually with a child heart, instead of using paint of multiple colors with super realistic shape. They look like simply painted on purpose, but there are lots of details. The form of all kaiju has a ferocious look, but lovable deformation is also expressed in it.

 

Softvinyl kaiju is made by pouring a raw colloid sol into a mold, firing and removing the hardened one. The process is almost the same from the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989) to now. HxS has been trying to make better toys with various molding methods in his own way.

 

Another characteristic is that he uses the method of expanding the self-expression through illustrators, tattooists, painters, and others. The original header of HxS by Masami Watanabe, who would draw illustrations for plastic model boxes in Showa, is absolutely his world. It rapidly expands while involving other talents.

 

In this exhibition, about 50 color variations of kaiju that have been sold will be exhibited in one place. In addition, original paintings and 80s style designed by PUSHEAD, silk screen printed skate board deck, and 2 new kaiju will be on display. Something surprising is also in preparation.

 

We hope you fully enjoy the world of HxS that rarely appears in public.