Here at the MINT Museum of Toys, we strive to not only bring you a world-class collection of vintage and historical toys and memorabilia, but to provide exhibition spaces for creative pop ups, workshops, and events in Singapore. We understand the passion that goes into toy and memorabilia collections, and want to give toy collectors a chance to commemorate their years of effort and dedication.
Our UNBOX programme was designed to help us do just that! UNBOX comprises seasonally-rotating themed exhibitions and pop ups that are meant to provide private collectors and international brands alike with a creative space to explore alternative exhibition narratives through valuable toys and memorabilia.
UNBOX is always open to toy enthusiasts and collectors who want to showcase their collection to a wider audience. Toy connoisseurs can browse our UNBOX Exclusive Archive of merchandise to fill your display cases with.
UNBOX Presents: Toy Figurines
Our current UNBOX event – UNBOX Presents: Toy Figurines – pays tribute to iconic toy figurines that have sparked and spanned generational shifts. Through this exhibition, you can learn how toy figures have always pushed the limits of societal expectations by giving kids creative new ways of seeing, imagining, and dreaming of the world around them.
The exhibition covers toy figurines and dolls from 10 brands in total: Barbie, G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K, He-Man, Bratz, Monster High, Rainbow High, Licca Chan, Transformers, and L.O.L. Surprise. Trace the journey of dolls and figurines throughout the decades – from the first Barbies of the 1950s and 1960s to the racially-diverse Bratz dolls that dominated in the early 2000s to today’s boundary-pushing Monster High and Rainbow High dolls that openly tackle once-taboo topics such as LGBTQ+ rights.
UNBOX Presents: Popeye & Vintage-Inspired Timepieces
Our latest exhibition – UNBOX Presents: Popeye & Vintage-Inspired Timepieces – celebrates Popeye the Sailor Man, who was first introduced to the public in a comic strip in 1929 and quickly became a crowd favourite. Private collectors with a passion and love for all things vintage can expect to see a range of rare and valuable pieces that we have specially curated for this pop up event.
The creative space will showcase two Popeye vintage toys, the Popeye and Olive Oyl Tank as well as the Popeye Heavy Hitter, from our own collection at the MINT Museum of Toys. In collaboration with local artist and watch maker, Ivan Chua, the Founder of Vario, the exhibition will feature The NAVI x Popeye Jump Hour Watch amongst other popular timepieces from the brand. Inspired by nautical elements present in the story and character, the watch features distinct and creative details such as an optical lens that sits as a water droplet to magnify the hour markers. A collection of 1918 Trench Watches and a series of Empire Art Deco Watches will also be on display at the event space, paying homage to the World War I and post-war era.
UNBOX isn’t just a venue for collection showcases or toy-themed pop ups, but a creative space where larger questions about art, culture, and everyday life collide and how toys and playthings can tell us more about ourselves and each other. Our UNBOX programme offers collectors and toy enthusiasts unique networking opportunities, access to our vast resources and collections, as well as new creative experiences and participation opportunities with the niche but growing collector’s scene.
Get in touch to find out more about our UNBOX programme, private event space rentals, creative workshops, and more right here in Singapore.
