"In the past, anyone could make toys with found objects, and they never tired of playing with them," Chiang said.
New-fangled toys ruin the fun
A revolution in the history of toys came in 1969, Chiang said, with the advent of the three wireless TV channels. Imported cartoons and foreign toy commercials changed people's tastes and before long Barbie and Mickey Mouse had replaced homelier straw human figures and plastic flying discs.
"Since then toys have become merchandise. You don't make your own toys. You pick a Snoopy or a Winnie the Pooh from store shelves. I used to take apart my toys to figure out how they work, but with Mickey Mouse, the educational function of toys was lost," Chiang said.
To revive interst in old toys, Chiang is looking for video game designers to work on on-line games based on old toys. Old toys as they are, Chiang admits, are no longer appealing to children. "Since every kid plays on-line games these days, maybe an old toy can be reborn in this new form."
Believing in a connection between violent games and violent behavior, Chiang purposely left out the fashionable, bloody clawed Kumakikai and horror versions of Be@rbrick from the museum's displays, as well as realistic guns.
Of all his toys, Chiang says one particular toy gave him his best memories -- an 8cm water pistol. With this rubber pouch on a tube, a 10-year-old Chiang won many battles with his friends back in the day.
"I believe lovers of old toys are nurturing their inner child well, because these simple gadgets appeal to something universal. Here, even young visitors who have never heard of these toys have a good time with them. They touch the humanity in us all," he said.
For your information :
Taiwan Toy Museum is located at 159, Jingye Rd,Taipei. (
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