An exhibit of uniquely designed toys created by Alina Biliakova the plush toy master from Dnipro was recently held with great success. Her toys are widely known among the collectors as the toys under the "CityPlush" trademark. Alina is both an artist, a designer and a plush toy master. Toys created by Alina have found their owners in every corner of the world. Her works can be found in private collections.
1. How did it happen that you were carried away by enthusiasm to create uniquely designed toys? Why did you choose to create these particular kind of toys?
I’ve worked a lot to get here. It took all my life))) My first toy was made when I was still in the kindergarten. My friends really liked it and I had to make a few more toys for them. Of course, my parents helped me: my father told how to make a carcass, my grandmother told how to cut out and make clothes. A child's hobby turned into a hobby of an adult. I began studying fine arts, I learned how to draw, sculpt, make compositions ... This lasted for some years. At a mature age I got into interior design. This was the way to give the second life to my toys.
Firstly, I was just busy with making interior toys, then I turned on the heat to create uniquely designed toys - this is what I see, this is what I want to let people know about (I have something to say and I say it)
2. Is it difficult to create handmade toys?
It is not difficult to make it mechanically, it is much more difficult but also more interesting to make your own toy look different from the other, to create your own recognizable style, to make the toy with a character ... The most difficult is to make it look alive.
My artistic and technical education, as well as variety of design skills became useful for me. In my opinion, it is even more important, to be able to “feel” the materials, to feel what the “newly born toy wants", and satisfy all its needs.
Most of the time I use vintage plush. This material meets my demands in the best way. But sometimes the image of the toy “asks for” viscose, artificial fur or drape cloth. I agree… Each toy itself knows how it should like and I just bring the ideas into life))))
3. People say that all portraits reflect the artist’s image in some way and all the works bear the character of their author. Do you think these statements can be true?
I think, yes. But rather, it is not about the external similarity, but about the author’s soul, about the inner world. My customers and worshipers of my creation says that I have my own and recognizable style.
The result depends also on the materials chosen. Vintage plush is my favorite material. Of course, I use other materials as well .... I created a range of different toys of animals, dolls, insects, but as my critics say they look as made for one handmade series, they are similar in some way, they have something in common and it is clear that they have been created by the same author. My opinion is that each author has his/her own style and vision.
I create my toys using all my creative experience - sewing skills, artistic modeling, knowledge of fine arts.
4. What inspires you, where do ideas come from?
I do not invent them ..the appearance of my kids often come to me suddenly, in the form of a ready image in my imagination. Although the image can often be strongly transformed in the process of creation.
It seems to me that toy itself knows what it should look like and the time of its readiness.
Dostoevsky said: "Beauty will save the world," I would slightly correct: "kindness will save the world."
A small tot is kind, he lives in a world of fairy tales, but then adult cares and hassle begin, the time of logic comes and the person ceases to believe in miracles and forgets own childlike fantastic vision of the world. All my toys are kind, positive and as if return the adult people to the world of fairy tales, to the world of childhood, where the question arises of somebody who rips leaves from trees in autumn and about what the butterflies say ...
My works have been designed to please a baby "inside" of every adult. I just want that children, when growing up, do not lose their ability to be surprised with the world and to find something good in it.”
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