Tristan Eaton is ridiculously, unfairly talented.
An artist’s artist who’s so good at what he does that other artists might want to burn all their works and move to a cave in the Himalayas to die alone. Except he’s evolved so many times that his next step might be Himalayan cave-painting – you never know. You can’t hide from Tristan- he’s everywhere. Completing giant murals, creating 3D paintings, publishing books, releasing limited edition posters, biting chunks out of politicians with his “Uprise” series, continuing his father’s fascinating work through his Legacy Project, and whatever other dozens of things he’s got hiding up his sleeves. But here at the Kidrobot office, of course, we still celebrate Tristan as the creator of the Dunny, our infinitely reinvented art figure that has been a canvas for many incredible artists since its birth in 2004.
And now, he’s back.
By Tristan’s estimation, it’s been about a decade since he designed a Dunny. And we’re not sure how but at some point between a thousand other projects and plotting a groundbreaking mobile exhibition of his art, he has yet again brought innovation to the Kidrobot universe by hatching a design for the Dunny that is unlike anything we’ve ever done and absolutely groundbreaking.
It’s metal.
Yes, metal. And to hold it in your hand, and to feel its heavy weight as it sparkles in your palm, is a brand-new experience for us and for any avid collector of the form. Recently we were able to chat with Tristan to get a word or two on the inspiration for the design and in a chill, unassuming manner, he explained to us “It’s really about sarcastically hyping up the bling of it, you know. Kind of bringing together all these bling stereotypes in a way. There’s gold chains in there, gold teeth… you know, all those elements of decadence. Kind of brought it all into one form.”
Sarcastically decadent, you say?
“It’s a really odd piece,” he elaborated. “A beautiful, chrome, shiny object, almost like a kind of deity. Like something Indiana Jones would steal.”
Anyone familiar with Tristan’s work won’t be fazed by the casual dropping of a pop culture reference. It’s sprinkled throughout his body of work, from the nightmarish Dreamland Mickey to references to horror films to the vaguely familiar faces of Hollywood starlets in his paintings – pop culture has remained a signature element of Tristan’s work. And the New Money Dunny capitalizes and expands upon that theme in all its sparkling, weighted glory.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a Himalayan Cave to scurry off to.
The New Money 5-inch Metal Dunny by Tristan Eaton drops October 4th, 2019, at 10am MT on Kidrobot.com and select art toy retailers. If you’re in New York, you may have a chance to snag one and have it signed by Tristan himself on the evening of October 4th. Limited quantities will be available at 6pm ET for Tristan Eaton’s “Strange Future” Art Show Opening 198 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002.
