The void is an empty space built into the body of every Atom Toys character. It stands for the emptiness we all feel sometimes. Inside it sits a small joy, like a sneaker, a flower pot or a glowing object, as a reminder to notice the small wins that keep us going. It's the idea behind Exploration of Void, the main art toy series by Atom Toys Studios, an art toy studio in Espoo, Finland.
Our tagline says it in five words: filling your void with small joys. Here's what that means, and why we build it into every figure.
What is the void?
A real hole in the character's body. It isn't printed on the box or explained in a caption. It's sculpted into the figure, usually in the chest, so you see it the moment you look at the piece.
The void stands for the gaps people carry: tiredness, loneliness, the feeling that something is missing even when life looks fine from the outside. We don't treat it as something to fix. Everyone has one.
What changes from character to character is how they try to fill it.
What is a small joy?
The object that sits inside the void. For Joy Boy it might be a sneaker. For Miss Bliss it might be a flower pot or another small world she slips into.
A small joy isn't a cure. It's the thing that helps for a while: a good coffee, a new pair of shoes, a song, a quiet evening. Small joys don't make the emptiness disappear, but they make it easier to carry.
That's the point of the series. The void is real, and so is the thing you reach for to fill it.
Why build emptiness into a toy?
Because every Atom Toys piece blends a grown-up topic with a childhood element.
A toy is the language of childhood: play, comfort, a friendly shape. We use that familiar form to carry something heavier. You see a playful figure first, then notice the hole in its chest, and the feeling underneath arrives a second later.
That tension is what makes it art rather than decoration. (We explain this idea in more detail in What Is an Art Toy?.)
What does the void mean for Joy Boy?
Joy Boy is our endless chase for comfort through things. Each new object of desire glows in his void and keeps him warm against the humdrum of life. Then the glow fades, and the chase starts again.
He's about the way we work hard to afford the things we want, and how that same effort can wear us down. The objects give him fuel and comfort, for a while.
Joy Boy comes in a few forms:
Joy Boy OG, the original figure.
Joy Boy Overdose, a 28 cm one-of-one piece.
Joy Boy Mini, where Joy Boy breaks into six hues. Each colour is one of the core emotions that make up his soul.
What does the void mean for Miss Bliss?
Miss Bliss is about escapism. Her void holds the small worlds we slip into when everyday life gets heavy. She finds the ones that let her disappear for a while, then she comes back.
Her small joys are swappable. They're held in place by magnets, so you can change what sits in her void. It's a small, physical way of saying that what comforts us changes over time.
Miss Bliss OG and Retro are 18.5 cm figures in numbered editions of 50, each with a certificate.
Where did the idea of the void come from?
The void started with Nigel Goh, the Singapore-born artist and co-founder of Atom Toys, who is based in Helsinki.
It came from noticing a gap in everyday life, and paying attention to the small things that filled it. Living in Finland shaped it too. Finnish culture finds quiet joy in stillness, small moments and subtle details, and that sensibility runs through the whole series.
Nigel began in digital art and moved into physical, collectible art toys. The void was the idea that made the move make sense: it needed to be something you could hold, look into and live with on a shelf.
How is the void made?
It's designed in from the first sketch. The void affects everything after it:
Sculpting: the hole has to read clearly from the front and still keep the figure strong.
Moulding and casting: the void shapes how the figure is split into parts and cast in resin.
The small joy: each object is sized to sit inside the void, and on Miss Bliss it's held by magnets so it can be swapped.
Painting: the inside of the void is painted by hand, like the rest of the figure.
Every figure is cast, sanded and hand-painted in our studio in small, numbered editions. (If you're curious about the work and the cost behind that, read Why Are Handmade Art Toys So Expensive?.)
FAQ
What is the void in Atom Toys?
The void is an empty space built into the body of every Atom Toys character. It stands for the emptiness people sometimes feel, and a small joy sits inside it.
What does "filling your void with small joys" mean?
It means noticing the small things that help you through a heavy day, like a favourite object, a song or a quiet moment. They don't remove the emptiness, but they make it easier to carry.
What is Exploration of Void?
Exploration of Void is the main art toy series by Atom Toys Studios in Espoo, Finland. Every character in it has a void with a small joy inside. The current characters are Joy Boy and Miss Bliss.
What does Joy Boy represent?
Joy Boy represents our endless chase for comfort through things. Each new object glows in his void and keeps him warm, until the glow fades and the chase starts again.
What does Miss Bliss represent?
Miss Bliss represents escapism. Her void holds the small worlds we slip into when life gets heavy, and her small joys can be swapped using magnets.
Who created the void?
Nigel Goh, the Singapore-born, Helsinki-based artist and co-founder of Atom Toys Studios.
Every void deserves a little joy. If you'd like to find yours, meet the characters on The Void page, or browse the shop.
Get new editions before they go public. Join the Atom Toys list for first access to new characters, studio notes and one email a month.
