Meet Your Maker: Nathan Jurevicius

A few weeks ago, we had that awesomesauce opportunity to visit STRANGEco’s warehouse and procure some sweet selections for Wondercon (and our online fans). Dipping back into the mid-2000s, we noticed a preponderance of figures by Australian artist, Nathan Jurevicius. Lining the shelves tucked amongst tokidoki and mixed up with Mars-1 were the tell-tale work of Nathan J: A Scarygirl here, a Treedweller there, even a rad (albeit a bit thrashed up) Dr. Maybe.

If we consider toys the way that archaeologists carbon-date eras,  these Nathan Jurevicius figures hail from the Flying Cat period. The now-defunct Hong Kong toy company put out some great, inspired character toys in the early-mid 2000s before burning out. Along with his contemporaries from Flying Cat, Nathan J has explored the Scarygirl universe in other media forms like games,  graphic novels and an upcoming feature film. We like that despite these other ventures, he still appreciates the art form of toys, and continues to produce figures (like the Swamp Folk mini series and Peleda).

We thought we’d kick off our new Meet Your Maker series with Scarynathan himself.

Neon Monster: What year did you start making toys?

Nathan Jurevicius: I started developing the designs for toys around 2001.

Did you have the Scarygirl universe conceptualized before you ever made the toys?

She [Scarygirl] was originally an interactive concept that was being created in Australia before a toy. At the time it was just Scarygirl and Toycat going on mini adventures trying to win the hearts of difficult peers. At each level, you would be rejected or accepted by them, depending on how you went. This version of the game never materialized, but a 30-part comic was created at the same time as the first toy (Scarygirl) was being made.

OK, I have to ask this: what the heck happened to Flying Cat?

Hmmm…good question!!! Alan from Flying Cat and myself had a very intense relationship (in a good way). I was sort of the company’s sounding board for issues or collaborations and also helped push certain products/designers (including TokyoPlastic’s Geisha girl). I think one issue may have been that the company over-extended itself financially. It’s a pity, as I thought it was actually one of the most adventurous designer vinyl producers of its day.

Agreed! Those 2005 Scarygirls by Flying Cat and STRANGEco were awesome. The sculpt, the quality, the paint, the design, the idea…what has happened to “designer toys” in the years that followed?

There’s been waves of quality and design over the years. At times, even my figures have been affected by them (though pleased to say in recent years I’ve been the happiest with them). Possibly, too many people started making designer toys without really thinking why they were making them. I feel like some companies wanted to get into the vinyl scene (especially corporate companies) because they thought it was cool, not really respecting the art form behind them. The last year or so has seen a change. There’s producers/artists now getting back to what it was all about in the beginning and making it even better than before…

Do you think there was a “heyday” of the vinyl toy/ art toy scene, and if so, when and why? Who’s on top of their game now?

I suppose if i was to be all nostalgic I’d look back at the time (late 90s) when Eric So and Michael Lau were the two main designers people would admire, and then a little bit later (late 90s early 2000s), there was a really wonderful small group of designers that I was fortunate to be a part of who helped shape the Western scene, including James Jarvis, Pete Fowler, Friends With You and the stuff Flying Cat was producing. There felt like a lot of friendships were formed and an enjoyment about what we were doing. Interestingly, all of these guys are still in the scene and creating great stuff whether it be toys or paintings or film. There’s a lot of people now who are definitely very popular (and also amazing artists); Ashley Wood, Amanda Visell and Bubi Au Yeung are just some names off the top of my head….

What do you think of all the other “goth-friendly” cute little strange female characters that came out of the 2000s? Is this now a genre?

I like some of the stuff. I think people think Scarygirl is meant to be a sort of goth-friendly figure, though it was never my intention. When you actually go into the story and her world you find it’s a lot more in the Wizard of Oz vibe and less about death and morbidity.

Was it a conscious decision to move into other Scarygirl ventures beyond toys or did this happen rather organically?

The original intention was to create a game around the character…the toys came soon after that idea. The comic occurred side by side the production of the figures. During this period, the concept was optioned for a feature film with Passion Pictures.

Simply semantics: in your opinion, are your works: “art toys,” “designer toys,” “urban vinyl,” “just toys” or any other term of your choice?

A combination of sculpture and collectible toys…art objects for all ages.

I like it. What’s next for you?

Lots of things in the works. My first 8-inch Dunny for Kidrobot (held off doing this for years, so it will be nice for collectors to finally see
something). And a new series of Scarygirl mini figures based on characters from the underworld/seedier side of the city. I’ve also begun a side company with artist Andrea Kang called ‘Harley + Boss’ and we are about to release a series of blind-boxed plush owls and also a show at Giant Robot, NY in May this year……and many other things….