Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Hello, I’m 2zakka, working on art toys with the motto, “I am an artist who brings originality and positive influence through my work.”

When I first came across art toys, I thought to myself, "I want to create my own characters and become an artist." That inspiration set me on this journey, and now I’m focused on making art toys that can bring positivity and good vibes to others.

I really believe that positive energy has a way of spreading—from one person to another and beyond. That’s why I put my heart into every piece I create, hoping to share that good energy through the art toys I make.

Q. What made you decide to leave your job and transition into being an art toy artist?

At first, I thought I could balance my job and my work as an artist with enough effort and consistency. But juggling exhibition activities, meetings, and interviews alongside a full-time job became overwhelming. I could only work on my art after hours, which left me constantly short on time.

Over time, I started seeing my job as just a means to support my art, and this mindset affected both my work and creative energy. Eventually, I decided to leave my job despite the uncertainties. Now, I’m focusing on the plans I had before quitting, working through them step by step.

Q. Among your works, which would you consider your signature piece, and which character is your favorite?

My main character is Emudy, a cloud-inspired figure, so I would consider the first piece in the Emudy series, Sunny Emudy, as my signature work.

As for my favorite character, it tends to change with each new project I work on. I always feel the strongest affection to my most recent creation. Right now, my favorite is Sunday Glow, a piece featuring a new sun-inspired character named Sunday.

Q. Where do you mainly draw inspiration from?

When I came up with Emudy, I had a habit of looking up at the sky. Watching the floating clouds gave me a lot of comfort, and I wanted to pass on that positive energy through my art toys, which led to the creation of Emudy.

I mainly draw inspiration from nature—water, clouds, grass, wind, and so on. I also have a fascination with space, and while it’s still in the sketching phase, I’m planning to turn elements of space into characters in the future. For movements and expressions in my characters, I often look to Mickey Mouse for inspiration.

Q. When do you feel the most fulfilled while creating your work?

I started my journey as an artist after attending Tobey’s offline class, and I still remember the first time I reached out to him. Back then, I could only draw with a mouse in MS Paint, and creating art toys felt overwhelming. I sent him a long DM, and his thoughtful reply became the starting point of my career.

Now, people reach out to me with questions about art toys, much like I once did with Tobey. Every time this happens, I feel a deep sense of pride and fulfillment, knowing I’m passing on positive energy and inspiration through my work.

Q. At the end of 2024, you collaborated with a Taiwanese brand, which seems like a significant step toward your goal of global expansion. Could you share more about the process and meaning behind this collaboration?

The collaboration with the Taiwanese clothing brand began through a collector who had supported my Emudy art toys for over two years. That collector turned out to be the brand’s CEO and manager.

While I’d received other collaboration offers in the past, many fell through. However, their long-time support and genuine desire to bring Emudy to a wider audience gave me the confidence to move forward. With the help of K-Toys for communication and planning, we were able to complete the project smoothly.

This collaboration was meaningful as it marked the first step in establishing Emudy not just as an art toy but as part of a larger brand.

Q. You’ve been consistently sharing your journey and creative process on your blog. Is there a particular reason why you chose to run it?

I use social media to share my work and journey as an artist, and my blog is one of my main platforms. Blogging lets me share thoughts and details that don’t fit as well on other platforms. I started it hoping even one person might connect with my message. I write about making art toys, my mindset as an artist, and exhibition updates. Recently, I’ve been posting more journal-style entries. I love that my blog acts as a permanent record I can revisit. For me, it’s not just about recording my work but creating a space to share ideas and work toward bigger goals. One day, I hope to turn these posts into a book and share my passion with even more people.

Q. Could you tell us about your collaboration with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?

This piece focuses on my main character, Emudy, a cloud-inspired figure.

I incorporated SEVEN EIGHT UNDER’s unique midsole design into Emudy’s shoes and created a playful scene where cheerful Emudys are painting on the shoes.

To me, art toys are more than just “works” — I see them as "living beings". I like to imagine them moving and acting in their own unique ways, like in the movie Toy Story. That mindset makes the creative process so much more enjoyable.

For this collaboration, I focused on immersing myself in the process, as if I were playing alongside Emudy. I titled the piece "Let’s Play!" to reflect that joy. I hope viewers can feel the same sense of creativity and playfulness through this work.

Q. What kind of artist would you like to be remembered as?

I want to be remembered as an artist who brings positive energy to those around me and as someone who always grows and pushes forward with passion and positivity.

Q. What is your mindset for becoming a better artist and a better person? Could you share a few key principles?

The three mindsets I value most are gratitude, enjoyment, and consistency.
Gratitude means appreciating what I have instead of comparing myself to others, and I’m thankful to do what I love with supportive people around me.
Enjoyment is about staying positive and finding strength in the process, even when things go wrong.
Consistency becomes part of life when it turns into a habit, and gratitude and enjoyment make it easier to maintain.
These three principles are the keys to making my vision a reality.

Q. With the start of 2025, what goals would you like to achieve this year?

My goals for 2025 aren’t all that different from last year, but I’ve set them with more specific intentions this time. Let me share two of them.

First, I want to create Emudy in a variety of materials, not just resin, so it can feel more approachable and relatable to a wider audience.
Second, I plan to introduce new versions of Emudy along with completely new characters, making art toys that can capture even more attention and appreciation this year.