Designer toys are collectible and sought after for the variety of issues they speak to. 

For My Royal Ego studio’s toy designer, Abell Octovan, social media has seemingly become a new religion in Indonesian society today as people’s obsession for receiving many likes and followers has made them thirst for publicity. 

To express his criticism over the phenomenon, his art toy, New Religion #1, depicts Mickey Mouse’s two hands in a praying position to the like, profile and comment buttons of Instagram. This work drew the attention of many during the Chromaticity exhibition at the Can’s Gallery in Jakarta. 

“My toys are a stinging satire on the country’s social and political issues,” said Abell in a recent talk with Museum of Toys co-founder Win Satrya at the Can’s Gallery.

Win, who has collected about 14,000 limited-edition designer art toys at the Museum of Toys, said that his playful collection was special because it not only sparked joy but also had a message that could trigger a conversation.  

I Donut Care, for example, criticizes selfish people who think only of themselves for their own pleasure without caring about others’ feelings. Created by Abell, the Simpsons-themed toy resembles a raised middle finger to symbolize arrogance, with two other fingers holding a glazed pink donut. The hand is yellow because it depicts the hand of Homer Simpson, who loves eating donuts in the American animated sitcom.

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