Seen: Touma @ mixi-bang ! (11.29.08)

Each winter since it opened, mixi-bang! has welcomed Japanese artist Touma for a solo exhibition featuring hard-to-get exclusive figures, customs and more.  Last night, Touma opened his ‘08 show with several new figures including a mixi-bang! exclusive Bone GID edition of his brand-new Beak Falcon figure, clear blue editions of Kazu (mad and normal) and Mao Cat, three large hard-to-get Destodons, and the recently released Knuckle Bear Guardians.  On the custom side of life, he presented a massive army of one-off and super limited (ed. of 3) Mao Cats and Kazus.

While Touma offered several one-off special figures, the best customs of the show were tantalizingly not for sale.  As a few collectors pointed out, his four custom Mao Cats painted in  gorgeous swirling  metallic/prismatic designs were truly incredible.  Had these been available, they would have been sold immediately. Check out closeups of the purple/blue and green/yellow customs after the jump  to get an idea of Touma’s paint wizardry.

As a fun tradition, Touma typically signs and sketches for fans wearing a luchador style mask of one of his many characters.  As we entered tonight we expected to see the familiar Knuckle Bear mask – but instead he was rocking something much more sinister : a jet black Goon mask.  Wicked. 

Touma was kind enough to oblige our current fascination with quick spur-of-the-moment videos.  We asked him to talk about his newest figure Beak Falcon.  Caught off guard and put on the spot, he  briefly introduced the figure  as the newest creature in his Knuckle series.  Touma + Japanese + Goon Mask – watch it (above). 

If you missed the show, go check it out. Out of town ?  mixi-bang! has the Beak Falcon and Guardian Knuckles up now in their web shop and will make the other figures available shortly.  Click through for plenty of pics of the opening.

mixi-bang!
36 W. colorado blvd. #5 (Mills Alley)
Pasadena, CA 91105
626.507.8095