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tavington β€” Soft Boy

#1980s #fleece #gaming #retro #retrogaming #softsculpture #tavington #unconventionalart #videogame #gamesconsole #console #contest #unconventional #videogameart #contest_entry #consolegaming
Published: 2018-08-16 15:16:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 5468; Favourites: 236; Downloads: 10
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Description

Here is my submission for the Ripley's Unconventional Art Contest


More on how I created this piece in my journal: www.deviantart.com/tavington/j…


I chose soft sculpture for my piece, in particular, the childhood memories of gaming, and one of the first gaming devices I'd ever held in my hands.

Gaming has always been a part of my younger years. It reminds me of a simpler time in life, where my main interest was to beat a final boss, or get to the end of a level.

I love to turn small, usually hard or rigid objects and drastically increase their size and make them pliable or soft. I am greatly inspired by the works of Claes Oldenburg, especially his giant food soft sculptures.


THE UNCONVENTIONAL

I believe this to be unconventional for the idea of turning a solid object into a soft one; turning the original physical form on its head. Up-scaling the size of such a small item to something of immense proportions gives it a playful, whimsical charm,. It's also something that the viewer can find fascinating and feel the need to touch or hold, or it may even remind them of their own childhood.


MATERIALS

Having lots of small pieces of fabric around with nothing to do is a bit of a waste. I decided to re-cycle old bits of fleece, curtain and cotton to create a gigantic, patchwork piece and replicate the original hardware down to the finest detail. On the sides of the sculpture are embroidered various ports, such as the headphone jack, volume and contrast buttons and even the connector used for linked play in some gaming.

Other materials used include PVC for the directional pad, a red safety nose usually used for plush toys for the battery light, and black buttons on the back to indicate screws.


The final piece stands a huge 23 inches high, is 13" wide and 6"deep and weighs over 1kg.

Around 12 hours of sewing have gone into making this unique piece.


Related content
Comments: 57

tavington In reply to ??? [2018-08-30 14:55:14 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Sleepy-Cosmos [2018-08-30 00:49:18 +0000 UTC]

Soft boi

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tavington In reply to Sleepy-Cosmos [2018-08-30 14:56:27 +0000 UTC]

So soft hehe

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gdpr-42967851 [2018-08-29 19:50:30 +0000 UTC]

That's going back a few decades!

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tavington In reply to gdpr-42967851 [2018-08-30 14:56:20 +0000 UTC]

It certainly is!

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gdpr-42967851 In reply to tavington [2018-08-30 20:25:38 +0000 UTC]

I'm from the dial-up generation.

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ART-fromthe-HEART [2018-08-29 03:53:49 +0000 UTC]

So adorable and creative!

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tavington In reply to ART-fromthe-HEART [2018-08-29 09:47:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! it was really fun to make

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SkylaComics [2018-08-29 03:14:18 +0000 UTC]

This is so cool! Great concept and execution

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tavington In reply to SkylaComics [2018-08-29 09:47:35 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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LindArtz [2018-08-29 01:17:53 +0000 UTC]

!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to LindArtz [2018-08-30 14:57:29 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the thumbs up!

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PktPictures [2018-08-29 00:32:21 +0000 UTC]

You made it to the Semi's, congratulations!! Such a fun entry!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to PktPictures [2018-08-30 14:56:46 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much! I was quite surprised!

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PekerSweet [2018-08-22 15:37:53 +0000 UTC]

kawaii!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to PekerSweet [2018-08-30 14:57:38 +0000 UTC]

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Scraffeh [2018-08-19 20:35:05 +0000 UTC]

This looks so cute!

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tavington In reply to Scraffeh [2018-08-20 09:23:10 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Scraffeh In reply to tavington [2018-08-20 09:29:58 +0000 UTC]

anytime!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

gotenkslovesme [2018-08-18 10:38:49 +0000 UTC]

Thats amazing

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to gotenkslovesme [2018-08-20 09:23:20 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much

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DaTurtle9 [2018-08-17 14:34:55 +0000 UTC]

looks so soft!

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tavington In reply to DaTurtle9 [2018-08-17 14:38:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! Yes it is rather plush. Very squishy!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

SylveonsRibbons101 [2018-08-17 13:00:02 +0000 UTC]

soft boy?
more like...
soft boi

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 2

JimmyLetzPlayz In reply to SylveonsRibbons101 [2018-08-17 23:08:08 +0000 UTC]

I was about to say that

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tavington In reply to SylveonsRibbons101 [2018-08-17 13:48:37 +0000 UTC]

I was *so close* to calling it that originally!

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reneevesters [2018-08-17 12:45:53 +0000 UTC]

So cool, I just wanna squeeze it.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to reneevesters [2018-08-17 13:48:50 +0000 UTC]

It is very huggable!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

JamieTheGardevoir [2018-08-17 11:40:54 +0000 UTC]

*wants to hug soft boy*

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tavington In reply to JamieTheGardevoir [2018-08-17 12:13:25 +0000 UTC]

I can confirm that Soft Boy is very huggable!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

MisterMerveille [2018-08-17 11:38:32 +0000 UTC]

Oddly adorable, if you ask me.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to MisterMerveille [2018-08-17 12:13:32 +0000 UTC]

Aww thank you!

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kentha-art [2018-08-17 09:57:46 +0000 UTC]

WOW SO COOL!!!Β 
Β 

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tavington In reply to kentha-art [2018-08-17 12:13:43 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

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Kittyillustrations [2018-08-17 09:24:27 +0000 UTC]

this is so awesome, great work!!

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tavington In reply to Kittyillustrations [2018-08-17 12:13:53 +0000 UTC]

Why thank you!

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Neraxa [2018-08-17 08:02:01 +0000 UTC]

Omggg its so genious!Β 
I still have my gameboy advanced, but not something as an old gameboy, oh, i ment soft boy
Best joke eveeer xD

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to Neraxa [2018-08-17 08:18:12 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much! It was a very fun project to make with lots of left-over bits of matierial!

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FractalWings [2018-08-17 02:09:19 +0000 UTC]

I think this was the one thing I needed to see today. ITS SO CUTEGASKGKSFAG-

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tavington In reply to FractalWings [2018-08-17 08:19:23 +0000 UTC]

Thank you kindly! It was a last-minute make, but I'm glad I was able to! I may be starting to make something new for the contest soon with a different technique, but still keeping sewing as the theme. I'll post up pictures when I'm done!

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jactinglim [2018-08-17 02:07:02 +0000 UTC]

That is so cute!

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tavington In reply to jactinglim [2018-08-17 08:19:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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MATE0-art [2018-08-16 22:05:20 +0000 UTC]

Cool idea , size and materail choice.
Is the move buttonΒ  made of vynil?

A tetrisΒ  pattern would be nice too ^^

Is it mint behind?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to MATE0-art [2018-08-17 06:08:29 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the comment! Yes I've recreated the back and sides too, you can see more pictures in my latest journal entry.
Yes theΒ  D Pad is made from vinyl

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RegnoArt [2018-08-16 20:25:08 +0000 UTC]

The Soft Boy Advance can play everything this can, but the original Soft Boy has a cuter look to it!

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tavington In reply to RegnoArt [2018-08-17 08:19:57 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! It's so squishy and heavy too!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

RegnoArt In reply to tavington [2018-08-19 23:25:10 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!
I wonder what it'd be like to use it as a pillow?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

tavington In reply to RegnoArt [2018-08-20 09:25:30 +0000 UTC]

I've still not my giant N64 controller i use as a pillow occasionaly. That is definitely worthy of lying on and getting comfy whilst playing games

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RegnoArt In reply to tavington [2018-08-21 10:03:36 +0000 UTC]

How awesome!

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Marmuc21 [2018-08-16 18:41:14 +0000 UTC]

Naja, cool thing

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