Q. Please give us a brief introduction of yourself.

I am an artist Jaebum Joo who is working in the field of pixel art.

Q. How did you start making pixel art?

In retrospect, it was such a simple coincidence. When I was making drawings of people on social media, I had to make my own that represents 'me' as a person. I tried to do it myself utilizing my background in animation, but I saw myself constantly influenced by other artists' styles rather than portraying my own. Then, while casually observing the checkered pattern of the layers in Photoshop, I spontaneously started sketching a self-portrait with crooked lines. I enjoyed it much, and that was the beginning of my pixel art.

Q. What exactly is pixel art?

The term 'pixel' refers to the smallest unit particle of a digital graphic. It has a square shape, and by placing square dots individually, I express what I want to share with others.

Q. What's your main source of inspiration?

Everything I see, hear, and encounter gives me an idea, but conversations with people around me are the most inspiring. Like when talking with my friends or my wife, my closest person, I get to see things from their perspectives and realize what I couldn't have seen, which gives me inspiration for new works.

Q. You have done several NFT projects - what does NFT mean for you?

I always wanted to learn about new fields since, though pixels are digital, I wanted to go beyond the image of simple old game graphics. That's why I refer to my works as pixel art rather than 8-bit game graphics. It can be applied to mosaics or cross-stitch patterns. NFT is another new medium for me to showcase my artwork. NFT platforms also have characteristics that resonate with my artwork, opening up possibilities for artistic activities using multidimensional media.

Q. Your signature project, P.P.P., can be found in the collaboration project with Seven Eight Under; could you explain the significance of this project and its relevance to the sneakers?

My ongoing project, P.P.P. (Pixel Portrait Project), captures a lot of information, such as the appearance, expression, and aura emanating from the faces of different people I draw. The unique works created by the collaborating artists of Seven Eight Under reminded me of the various face characters in my P.P.P. Now I find those characters have gained the force of motion with the sneakers. (Haha)

Q. Could you share some highlights of this work?

The faces include my portrait and the people I like, and characters that are meaningful to me, such as my wife and our cat, 'Salgu.' They all made me who I am now.

Q. Is there a place you would like to go in Seven Eight Under sneakers?

I cannot wait to wear them to the exhibition where the P.P.P. project is being shown. Drawing and interacting with people with these shoes will be so much more meaningful.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I want to continue meeting and communicating with various people through 'pixel' as a medium. And I hope they become joyful members of the 'Pixel World' I'm building.

Q. Lastly, would you share a piece of advice or encouragement to the people who "keep marching for their dreams"?

I, too, continued to march while doing what I love, sometimes tirelessly and sometimes wandering. You may have to look back from time to time, but I fully support all of those who continue to move forward at their own pace, regaining the power to take a step!