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Customizer's Spotlight: Jan Calleja
Published by D_Martin on November 25, 2008 at 01:17 AM CST








Cool Toy Review’s Customizer’s Spotlight: Jan Calleja
Name: Jan Calleja

Located: Manila, Philippines




Filipino customizer Jan Calleja finds his inspiration in Juxtaposition by creating cute cartoon characters of vengeful demons and world demolishers and war machines for peace.



Customizing is all about thinking out of the box. In a lot of ways it is partially found art and a lot of mad McGyver skills. A customizer needs to be able to see beyond the raw materials in front of them to be able to come up with their desired results. Sometimes it is a very deliberate process and occasionally, when you least expect it, it is a pleasant mistake.




How Long Have You Been Customizing?
I have been customizing for 2 years now. My friend and artist, Reymar Gacutan showed me some techniques that I thought were cool. I jammed with him and made some interesting projects together. I wasn't into figures and robots before but when I learned some basic customizing kung fu, I grew to enjoy it very much. I also enjoy designing toys that I enter in competitions. Please check out my designs at Patch Together.


What Inspired these customs?
As I've said, I wasn't into these toys and figures. I was into tanks, airplanes and guns, but I don't collect, I just draw, watch, and read about them. That's where my inspiration comes from (design-wise). But as for theme, I would like to design more toys that inspire peace. I thought maybe I could merge the look and feel of war machines into designs that can be used for exactly the opposite…like the one I did for ZU4. It has the look of a destructive mecha but its job actually is to clear mines and other harmful explosives.


What's the recipe?
Lots of junk... discarded computer mouse, wires, plastics, putty...good paint, and lots of patience.



MY FIRST CUSTOM
Inspired by the BAND OF BROTHERS series. It’s a tribute to Major Winters of Easy company, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne Division. Customized from a 7 inch Daredevil action figure. Added some putty, masking tape and wires. I also made an M-1 Garand from polystyrene plastic and tiny aluminum tubes . It won me 1st place in the 1st TAGCOM competition for the 7 inches and below custom figure category.



SPARTAN
I made this one immediately after watching Frank Miller’s 300 movie. Customized from a 7 inch Batman action figure. I used Waterstop-roof putty for the build-ups and actual cloth for his cape (applying multiple layers of latex paint to set the cloth to desired shape/form). Again, I made use of plastic to form his sword, sandals, shield, helmet and other accessories.


MY URBAN PROJECTS



BART GALACTUS
Customized from a 10, or was it 13 inch Quee Bart? I used purely rubber foam on this one. Rubber foam and paint. It’s my first vinyl custom, commissioned by Toy collector Pat Carlos.



GHOST RIDER MUNNY
This one is from a glow in the dark Munny. I used actual chain links for its weapon and bensia pencil cartridges for the spikes. As for the hair..it’s glue gun. Commissioned also by Mr. Carlos.



BAT BART
3 inch Quee Bart keychain made into Bat-Bart. I used rubber from my daughter’s discarded nebulizer set and added putty for the ears. Shiela Tiongco private collection.


ZU4 CUSTOM STIKFAS
Customized Alpha Male Stikfas. Lots of junk and careful painting went into this project. It won 2nd place in the 1st Philippine Stikfas custom competition.




ZU 1 and 2
These ones are from a CI Boy collection. With lots of junk and glossy paint, it’s transformed into concept mechas which heads the ZU PROJEK series. ZU1 has actual BMW parts for its details. ZU2 is a medical robot and was commissioned by a local doctor.



ZU4
This one is made totally from scratch. Again, lots of junk and paint went into this project. I designed it to be as menacing as the usual war-robots but as a twist, I made it into a bomb disposal robot. Its concept is to help get rid of unexploded ordnances in conflict areas.


What's next?
Design more relevant toys. Attract/market designs for prospective toy producers. An exhibit within the following year, perhaps?


Where can we find you?

I only have a flickr account as of now. But we will soon have a blog for exhibiting and selling works with fellow local artist, Gilbert Ibanez, who by the way is a good designer also.


Think your customs have what it takes to be featured? Drop us a line.


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