Pyron Tan grew his collection from a Spawn Wings of Redemption action figure that he’d picked up from a flea market. These days, however, his toys are cute rather than creepy. We got him to show and tell.
Where did your love of toys come from?
My family was not well-off when I was younger, so I didn’t have many toys. In 2002, while studying at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, I had to complete a 3D modelling module and visited a flea market in Clarke Quay to buy a toy to complete the assignment. I still have my Spawn Wings of Redemption action figure at home but it’s in storage.
Look how it’s evolved.
I don’t think my passion for toys got bigger or stronger. It became more focused over the years. When I was first exposed to so many toys, I wanted to buy everything—and I did! I had a huge collection of horror and dissectible toys, including Spawn and Tortured Souls, with blood oozing out and skin peeling away.
I also had Living Dead Dolls and Chucky, but when I got married, my wife gave me an ultimatum: “I cannot live with such scary toys!” So I sold my horror toys.
But you still have your Life-Size XXray Elmo (Snow Edition).
My wife approves and says it’s cute. I bought this from local toy retailer Mighty Jaxx in 2021. It is a 1.2-m tall vinyl art piece by Jason Freeny and features Elmo’s detailed anatomy. How cool is that! My year-end bonus helped me pay for this. There are also several more in smaller sizes and different colours, like the 7.6-cm one in black, which was the first Elmo I bought in 2018.
For your passion, what flak have you faced?
[Chuckles] I had a colleague who asked why a big man like me is still playing with toys. I wasn’t offended; at least I spend my money on legit things that make me happy. I never buy with an intention to sell—unless I need to make room for new toys.
Hang on, is that a Labubu we see?
I used to own more, but I sold them away. My current collection includes designer toys by Kaws, Sticky Monster Lab, Kimmongni, Flab Slab, Goodmorningtown, and Burger Kun. My wife’s taste in toys also influences what I buy. Several of my friends collect Hot Toys, and we meet on the weekends to share information or shop at flea markets for new toys.
