"Ordinary Art is NO"... These Days MZ Generation is Obsessed with 'Tokotoko'

Character Artist of Wangburisae 'Hyeonjineori'
Popular Among Young People for Pop Art Sensibility

A Toco-tree with Toco-Shoes on by artist Hyunjineori.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] I have seen many artworks, but this was the first time I wanted to collect a character from a piece as an emoticon. When you bring home one or two dolls, somehow your heart feels warm, and looking at the works of artist Hyun Jin Kim (29, photo, real name Kim Hyun-jin) gives exactly that feeling. If the artist’s signature character ‘Tokotoko’ really existed, I would want to adopt and raise one.

Tokotoko is a pop art interpretation and hatchling of the royal-billed toucan by the artist. Hyun Jin Kim said, "When I was in high school taking a mock exam, there was an English passage explaining the toucan," adding, "I became interested because I realized the bird I saw in the Kellogg’s Fruit Rings cereal commercial was this one." Tokotoko appears throughout the works?in trees, on icy roads, and more?leading its own unique story.

Hyeon Jinori's work pays homage to Sandro Botticelli's masterpiece 'The Birth of Venus.'

In her early twenties, the artist mainly projected her own self onto Tokotoko. Looking at her works from that time, many pay homage to masterpieces by Renaissance painters such as Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ or Michelangelo’s ‘The Creation of Adam.’ Tokotoko is depicted as if playing in the background of those paintings like a playground. This shows the artist’s experimental spirit and individuality.

Works from her mid to late twenties mostly feature Tokotoko in love. Against a backdrop of young men and women drawn with bold lines sharing love, a pair of Tokotoko characters are shown touching beaks or embracing affectionately. Hyun Jin Kim said, "I was in a long relationship at the time, and the feelings of love I experienced then are mainly reflected in the works."

Actress Park Eun-hye posing with a work by artist Hyunjineori.

Tokotoko is currently very interested in environmental issues. This is also the central theme of Hyun Jin Kim’s solo exhibition ‘DDDDDinos...!’ held last June at Art Space H in Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. The artist presented about 50 dinosaur paintings alongside 50 different kinds of birds featuring Tokotoko. Hyun Jin Kim said, "The exhibition carries a warning message that reckless environmental destruction could lead to human extinction, just as dinosaurs became extinct due to rapid environmental changes," adding, "This also resonates with the current situation where many people are suffering due to COVID-19." As part of her environmental protection efforts, she has stopped eating meat for several months and practices vegetarianism. She also uses a tumbler for drinks at coffee shops.

'Hwanggeum Usayong-i Sannun Christmas Tree' by writer Hyunjineori.

Hyun Jin Kim has also early on started creating works using non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are gaining attention in the art market this year. She chose this because it is more environmentally friendly than physical works using oil or acrylic paints on canvas. Her NFT works ‘The Truth of Tokotoko,’ ‘Tokotoko’s Egg,’ and ‘Space Use’ sold out on the NFT trading platform OpenSea last April. She praised NFTs, saying, "NFTs free artists from waste generated when works are damaged, solve workspace issues, and suit a minimalist lifestyle. Especially for digital nomad artists working with IT devices rather than painting, it is an optimal opportunity." She plans to hold an event exhibition soon where collectors who purchase NFTs will also receive physical artworks in the form of a lottery.

Travel is the source of inspiration for Hyun Jin Kim. The attachment and longing for people, nature, and things left behind in unfamiliar places are emotions that are hard to approach without travel. She traveled across Europe in 2015 and Asia and Africa for several months in 2019?all on a shoestring budget. She earned meals by drawing caricatures at a restaurant in Manali, India, or received lodging and meals by painting murals at a guesthouse in Tel Aviv, Israel. Through these interactions, she connected with people and funded her travels. In March, she held a solo exhibition called ‘World Wide Wall,’ transferring the paintings she created during her travels onto canvas. Hyun Jin Kim said, "After finishing solo and group exhibitions continuing until the second half of next year, I plan to try living in New York. Currently, I am focused on integrating the animals I have drawn into one worldview and will soon present the results in a storytelling format."