MANUFACTURINGJOY

March - August 2026 Helsinki

JENNA MATTILA

MANUFACTURING JOY

At Atom Toys, we explore the voids we carry in our lives and how the small joys we find along the way help us cope with them through sculptures and figures. Our work is a gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate the small things we already have. ‍

  • Display of colorful cartoon artt toys on a mechanical-themed stage with large gear and clock props, illuminated with blue lighting.
  • Display window with robotic-themed anime figures, illuminated by spotlights, featuring several art toy on various levels with a mechanical gear and arm backdrop.
  • Close-up of a large black gear with a metallic inner circle, part of an industrial or mechanical display.

MANUFACTURING JOY extends this idea through the act of making. Inspired by the process of creating sculptures and figures, the installation adopts the visual language of a factory. It suggests that joy is something we can shape and design for ourselves.

Each figure is formed with a visible void within its body, holding a small joy inside. A simple object. A playful symbol. A reminder of something personal and ordinary.

1540 x 1775 x 350 mm
Material: Mixed media, wood and resin sculptures.

Where to See It

 

Visit the display from March - August 2026 @ Föreningen Luckan Rf Yrjönkatu 27, 00100 Helsinki

SODA RANGERS

The Soda Ranger series reflects the idea of filling the void with small moments of joy, often found in simple pleasures like drinks and good company.

  • Colorful power ranger art toy figurines in red, yellow, teal, and purple on a black platform with gear-shaped decorations, illuminated by blue and purple lighting.
  • Three statue figures resembling racing cars with exaggerated faces, colored green, red, and yellow, standing on black gear-shaped platform, all with open mouths and white gloves.
  • Two vinyl figurines of the power ranger art toy , numbered 6 and 2, displayed on black platforms with black backdrops.
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JOYBOY

Joy Boy fills his void with the small joys of his sneaker collection. Collecting sneakers becomes his way of coping with the emptiness he carries.

  • Two black joyboy art toy with exaggerated features, standing on black platforms with geometric shapes in the background, lit with purple and orange lighting.
  • A art toy figure with a cartoonish face, black hair, and large ears. It is holding a red and white object resembling a mouth or device and wears black shorts and boots under a white top. The scene has colorful, purple, and yellow lighting.
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MISS BLISS

Miss Bliss reflects the idea of filling the void with the small joys of escaping into nature, where comfort and peace can be found away from the noise of everyday life.

  • A stylized cartoon figure with a skull face, wearing a gray hoodie with a flower pot and daisy on the front, a black skirt, and tall black boots, standing against a dark background.
  • A stylized 3D art toy figure of a person with black hair in a ponytail, wearing a black hat, gray coat, black shorts, and black boots. The person has a small green plant in a flower pot inside the coat's pocket and is set against a black background.
  • A stylized figure resembling a girl with a skull-like face, wearing a black hat, white jacket with a cut-out pocket showing a potted daisy, a black skirt, and black boots, set against a black background.
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THE CREW

This installation is designed by Nigel Goh and brought to life by Jenna Mattila and crew. Built by hand using wood construction and integrated electric lighting, the factory environment is physically crafted rather than digitally produced. Every structural element, surface, and illuminated detail reflects the team’s hands on process, reinforcing the idea that both the installation and the joy it represents are intentionally made. Follow us on Instargarm as we will be sharing the process behind this installation

  • A woman with brown hair tied back, kneeling and looking down at a workspace with networking equipment, wires, and a small steering wheel model.
  • Two people standing outside a store window display featuring various art toys and figures, illuminated with bright lights, at night.
  • Two individuals working together on a black electronic device, possibly a keyboard, in an indoor setting.
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