RANDOM COMMENTS & GOOGLE REVIEWS
Working evenings in the shop with the blinds down, passers-by might assume the place is empty and speak their minds about the art on display. I sometimes catch a phrase and as a collector of amusing ideas I began jotting the odd one down. Many people are discombobulated, some annoyed, at being jolted for a few moments out of the High Street comfort zone with some serious, often ambiguous satire. (Keep scrolling down for a few of the more enthusiastic comments, the ones which encourage me to keep chipping away at whatever it is I'm doing.) P.P.2020-2024
"Oh my God, look at that!"
"What on Earth?"
"W.T.F.?"
"What the fuck is this?"
"Is that meant to be ironic?"
"Very random."
"It's not real art."
"Bit creepy for my liking."
"Freaky."
"I don't get it."
"That is so wrong."
"Fucking Looney Tunes."
"That is reality that is. Bloody awful."
"It's horrible this shop. I mean, look at that. Dead cows."
"Wouldn't be surprised if there are bodies in the back."
"Very bizarre things in there."
"What the fuck is all that for?"
"Strange stuff."
"We'll know where to come when we want to scare the grandchildren next time."
"Taking the heads off dinosaurs. A bit sad."
"Weirdo."
"This is the weirdest shop ever."
"Keep walking, kids, keep walking!"
"Disgusting. It ain't right."
"Who would want a skull toy?"
"This is all manner of wank."
"Rip-off. I bet they cost twenty pounds."
"So annoying."
"There's nothing that I like in there. It's all horrid."
"This used to be a good shop."
"They've just copied Sid from Toy Story."
"Too weird. Can't put that in your house."
"See that duck? It's about eight foot tall. Want that in your living room? Bloody ridiculous."
"Weird old shop. I'm surprised he gets any customers."
"What's that meant to be?"
"He must have a disturbed mind."
"Absolutely barking mad."
"Why would someone do that?"
"He's got, like, loads of models and things in there. So odd."
"You have to wonder who buys things like this. Obviously people with very weird ideas."
"How is that art? He's just chopped the heads off and stuck something else on."
"He's just pulled the heads off all the different toys and then opened a shop."
"He takes the head off one thing and puts it on another. That's all he does! That's all he does!"
"Chewbacca with Elsa's head. I think it's some kind of queer shop."
"Darth Vader's the only one I recognise. Fucking weird shop."
"How stupid is that."
"Headfuck!"
"Naked Barbies!"
"Look, that's weird, that's weird, that's weird, that's weird... Everything in there is weird!"
"I don't like it, I hate it, it's all weird."
"Why would you buy that?"
"And they charge so much for it as well."
"It says, 'Part-time model-maker required'. What? What for!?"
"He did nothing for Ventnor Day."
"Never seen such rubbish. But I do like Darth Vader holding the toilet brush."
"Right load of absolute shit all that is."
"Some of this works for me, which is quite scary."
"Are these real things?"
"He's got to be a weirdo doing stuff like that."
"It's all gone above my head."
"It's quite a good space, but you go in there and there's all this rubbish on the walls."
"How do they survive? Who fucking shops there?"
"Do you think Jeffrey Dahmer works in there?"
"There's no craftsmanship. Just things stacked on top of each other."
"Have you seen that Batman with the stupid baby's head? Totally ruins it."
"I don't know what this chap's doing but it's bloody awful."
"Seen all the skeletons in there? Fucking weirdo."
"Sticking that rubbish on all those oil paintings. What an idiot."
"I hope they burn down."
"Funny shop for funny people."
"I like the things, but I don't like the arrogance."
"Can't make my mind up, I don't know what to think."
"I understand the concept, but I can't see the point."
"Never seen such rubbish. But I do like Darth Vader holding the toilet brush."
"There's a powerful message behind some of his stuff, like the plastic rubbish floating in the sea. But that or that, no, that's not art."
"It's very different."
"It's quite interesting really."
"Some of this is actually quite clever."
"Really weird shop. Cool though."
"I don't know what I would do with it, but I like it."
"I like this shop. I can't see anything I'd be allowed to have in the house, but I like this shop."
"He just wants you to think about it."
"He's brave doing this."
"Looks like he's just swapped heads on things, but there's always a reason behind it."
"So much going on, you don't know where to look."
"Arthur would like this. He's got a strange twisted mind."
"It's the kind of thing George would love."
"It's punk, I like it. I like anything that annoys people."
"It's very post-modern."
"Amazing. So cool."
"It's really freaky but really cool."
"I'd love to do that job, making all this weird shit."
"It raises the question, is it art or is it trash. I don't know, but it's definitely interesting."
"People travel far & wide for this kind of thing."
"One of a kind."
"Incredible. Never seen anything like it."
"Brilliant."
"Genius."
"Best shop in Ventnor."
"Best shop on the Isle of Wight."
"Best shop ever."
"The Isle of Wight's Banksy."
"Oh my God, look at that!"
"What on Earth?"
"W.T.F.?"
"What the fuck is this?"
"Is that meant to be ironic?"
"Very random."
"It's not real art."
"Bit creepy for my liking."
"Freaky."
"I don't get it."
"That is so wrong."
"Fucking Looney Tunes."
"That is reality that is. Bloody awful."
"It's horrible this shop. I mean, look at that. Dead cows."
"Wouldn't be surprised if there are bodies in the back."
"Very bizarre things in there."
"What the fuck is all that for?"
"Strange stuff."
"We'll know where to come when we want to scare the grandchildren next time."
"Taking the heads off dinosaurs. A bit sad."
"Weirdo."
"This is the weirdest shop ever."
"Keep walking, kids, keep walking!"
"Disgusting. It ain't right."
"Who would want a skull toy?"
"This is all manner of wank."
"Rip-off. I bet they cost twenty pounds."
"So annoying."
"There's nothing that I like in there. It's all horrid."
"This used to be a good shop."
"They've just copied Sid from Toy Story."
"Too weird. Can't put that in your house."
"See that duck? It's about eight foot tall. Want that in your living room? Bloody ridiculous."
"Weird old shop. I'm surprised he gets any customers."
"What's that meant to be?"
"He must have a disturbed mind."
"Absolutely barking mad."
"Why would someone do that?"
"He's got, like, loads of models and things in there. So odd."
"You have to wonder who buys things like this. Obviously people with very weird ideas."
"How is that art? He's just chopped the heads off and stuck something else on."
"He's just pulled the heads off all the different toys and then opened a shop."
"He takes the head off one thing and puts it on another. That's all he does! That's all he does!"
"Chewbacca with Elsa's head. I think it's some kind of queer shop."
"Darth Vader's the only one I recognise. Fucking weird shop."
"How stupid is that."
"Headfuck!"
"Naked Barbies!"
"Look, that's weird, that's weird, that's weird, that's weird... Everything in there is weird!"
"I don't like it, I hate it, it's all weird."
"Why would you buy that?"
"And they charge so much for it as well."
"It says, 'Part-time model-maker required'. What? What for!?"
"He did nothing for Ventnor Day."
"Never seen such rubbish. But I do like Darth Vader holding the toilet brush."
"Right load of absolute shit all that is."
"Some of this works for me, which is quite scary."
"Are these real things?"
"He's got to be a weirdo doing stuff like that."
"It's all gone above my head."
"It's quite a good space, but you go in there and there's all this rubbish on the walls."
"How do they survive? Who fucking shops there?"
"Do you think Jeffrey Dahmer works in there?"
"There's no craftsmanship. Just things stacked on top of each other."
"Have you seen that Batman with the stupid baby's head? Totally ruins it."
"I don't know what this chap's doing but it's bloody awful."
"Seen all the skeletons in there? Fucking weirdo."
"Sticking that rubbish on all those oil paintings. What an idiot."
"I hope they burn down."
"Funny shop for funny people."
"I like the things, but I don't like the arrogance."
"Can't make my mind up, I don't know what to think."
"I understand the concept, but I can't see the point."
"Never seen such rubbish. But I do like Darth Vader holding the toilet brush."
"There's a powerful message behind some of his stuff, like the plastic rubbish floating in the sea. But that or that, no, that's not art."
"It's very different."
"It's quite interesting really."
"Some of this is actually quite clever."
"Really weird shop. Cool though."
"I don't know what I would do with it, but I like it."
"I like this shop. I can't see anything I'd be allowed to have in the house, but I like this shop."
"He just wants you to think about it."
"He's brave doing this."
"Looks like he's just swapped heads on things, but there's always a reason behind it."
"So much going on, you don't know where to look."
"Arthur would like this. He's got a strange twisted mind."
"It's the kind of thing George would love."
"It's punk, I like it. I like anything that annoys people."
"It's very post-modern."
"Amazing. So cool."
"It's really freaky but really cool."
"I'd love to do that job, making all this weird shit."
"It raises the question, is it art or is it trash. I don't know, but it's definitely interesting."
"People travel far & wide for this kind of thing."
"One of a kind."
"Incredible. Never seen anything like it."
"Brilliant."
"Genius."
"Best shop in Ventnor."
"Best shop on the Isle of Wight."
"Best shop ever."
"The Isle of Wight's Banksy."
Google Reviews
"This shop comes across as trying to be 'unique' and 'quirky' but just looks like a child's bad attempt at fixing a toy they broke. I cringe every time I've had to go past. What a waste of a shop and all the items they've had to ruin to make them look that awful."
(One star)
Happy Island
"One of the most unique shops I've ever been to. A mixture of art and comedy and I feel like I could spend hours walking around chuckling to myself. The owner was lovely to chat to as well. If you're in Ventnor you won't regret popping I'm here for a look!"
(Five stars)
Hannah C
"This is an incredible store chocked full of unique creations that will have you chuckling. The items are all available to buy - just make an offer. Well worth a visit if you are in Ventnor."
(Five stars)
Russell Holden
"Really cool and quirky shop! Definitely worth a visit if in Ventnor."
(Five stars)
Duncan P
"Owner super friendly, I could spend hours in that shop! Perfect place for very unique gifts."
(Five stars)
Gianpu
"Surely one of the most inventive, funny, ironic and inspired things in Ventnor, itself already famous for all these qualities thanks to the thriving Ventnor Fringe, Arts Club and much else. Sometimes provocative, always interesting, it is clear proof that the unconventional spirit is alive and well. Well worth a trip!"
(Five stars)
John Trotman
"I wouldn't dare to rate less than 7 stars but 5 is enough this time."
(Five stars)
Jens Oulwiger
"While I was away on my yearly pilgrimage to the Isle Of Wight, I travelled back to Ventnor to see what had replaced my favourite model shop. Something called Paradox Island. I was instantly blown away by the ace art pieces that automatically filled me with joy. They're so funny, quirky and are just so relevant. After chatting to Paul about the shop and it's curiosities I couldn't leave without purchasing a piece of his work. One stood out to me on the vast selection on the walls. Please do support Paul and his endeavour. He's very talented and deserves to be there for many years to come."
(Five stars)
NoodleSoup
(One star)
Happy Island
"One of the most unique shops I've ever been to. A mixture of art and comedy and I feel like I could spend hours walking around chuckling to myself. The owner was lovely to chat to as well. If you're in Ventnor you won't regret popping I'm here for a look!"
(Five stars)
Hannah C
"This is an incredible store chocked full of unique creations that will have you chuckling. The items are all available to buy - just make an offer. Well worth a visit if you are in Ventnor."
(Five stars)
Russell Holden
"Really cool and quirky shop! Definitely worth a visit if in Ventnor."
(Five stars)
Duncan P
"Owner super friendly, I could spend hours in that shop! Perfect place for very unique gifts."
(Five stars)
Gianpu
"Surely one of the most inventive, funny, ironic and inspired things in Ventnor, itself already famous for all these qualities thanks to the thriving Ventnor Fringe, Arts Club and much else. Sometimes provocative, always interesting, it is clear proof that the unconventional spirit is alive and well. Well worth a trip!"
(Five stars)
John Trotman
"I wouldn't dare to rate less than 7 stars but 5 is enough this time."
(Five stars)
Jens Oulwiger
"While I was away on my yearly pilgrimage to the Isle Of Wight, I travelled back to Ventnor to see what had replaced my favourite model shop. Something called Paradox Island. I was instantly blown away by the ace art pieces that automatically filled me with joy. They're so funny, quirky and are just so relevant. After chatting to Paul about the shop and it's curiosities I couldn't leave without purchasing a piece of his work. One stood out to me on the vast selection on the walls. Please do support Paul and his endeavour. He's very talented and deserves to be there for many years to come."
(Five stars)
NoodleSoup