Hello, I am Tobey, working on art toys in Hongdae.
Q. You go by the name 'Tobey.' What does it mean to you?
"Obey" means "to follow" or "to submit." By placing a lowercase "t" in front to form "t-Obey," I made it to mean "submitting before the cross."
Q. How did you start your journey as an art toy creator?
I went through a difficult time in my late twenties, repeatedly facing obstacles one after another - looking for a job, starting businesses, and so on. During that time, I looked back on my life and remembered how much I enjoyed drawing characters as a child. Creating my own characters has always been a source of joy and energy for me. Then, I discovered the genre of art toys, and I was drawn to the idea of physically bringing my characters to life. I never imagined that this passion that stemmed from such a challenging time would eventually lead me to become an artist.
Q. Do you have a personal philosophy when it comes to creating art toys?
I try to bring on uplifting subjects in my work. I avoid topics like despair or loneliness, as my philosophy is to steer clear of dark, depressing matters in my art.
Q. You've created various characters like the "J," the 'P', and FRED. Were there any particular people or figures who inspired you to create these characters?
"P" was heavily inspired by my own experiences and emotions, reflecting on moments of happiness and the various feelings of different situations. On the other hand, FRED mainly references Black culture in the '80s and '90s. I was deeply impressed by the free, bold, strong spirit of the Black people from that era, and I wanted to capture those traits in this character. While these two characters come from different inspirations, they share a commonality of focusing on true self-identity.
Q. What gave you the biggest influence on your artwork?
The biggest impact on my work comes from emotions and memories. The various feelings I've had throughout my life often appear in my work, sometimes abstractly and other times more concretely. As I create pieces based on the past, I tend to incorporate nostalgic aspects as a wit. These naturally blend into the character’s features or story, adding an extra fun layer to the work.
Q. What kind of artist do you want to be remembered as?
I want people to remember me as an artist who creates warm, heartfelt works—someone whose pieces evoke nostalgic memories.
Q.You have studios in both Hongdae and Anyang - tell us more about those spaces.
In my Hongdae studio, I mainly work on the overall design. I also hold offline classes there, so I get a lot of energy, let alone from other creatives who share the space. In my Anyang studio, I focus on the physical aspects of the work, like post-modeling processes. It’s a more secluded space, so it helps me concentrate better.
Q. You're also a teacher to aspiring art toy creators; what advice would you give to them?
Creating your best work at the moment is great, but it's also important to show a spectrum of your creativity. Producing a lot of work and building your own brand should come first. There will come a moment for a masterpiece over time, into which you'll need to pour all your heart and soul. That's when you aim to do your best work.
Q. How was your collaboration with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?
It was an honor to finally collaborate with the sneakers brand I dreamed of working with since the beginning of my career. SEVEN EIGHT UNDER perfectly suits the art toy genre, so it was such an enjoyable experience.
Q. Is there a message you wish to convey through this project?
Rather than conveying a specific message through the work itself, I hope to encourage everyone who wants to take on a new challenge, looking at me starting a career this late.
Q. If you were to highlight a few key aspects of this project, what would they be?
My signature character, the 'P,' is wearing SEVEN EIGHT UNDER shoes in this project, layered with fun details to discover.
Q. What is your ultimate goal as an artist?
I want to build a life-sized Noah's Ark, like the one in the Bible. I don’t want to do it alone, but rather with the meaningful people I’ve met through my creative journey. SEVEN EIGHT UNDER is definitely one of those collaborators!
Tobey
the 'P step'
Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
Hello, I am Tobey, working on art toys in Hongdae.
Q. You go by the name 'Tobey.' What does it mean to you?
"Obey" means "to follow" or "to submit." By placing a lowercase "t" in front to form "t-Obey," I made it to mean "submitting before the cross."
Q. How did you start your journey as an art toy creator?
I went through a difficult time in my late twenties, repeatedly facing obstacles one after another - looking for a job, starting businesses, and so on. During that time, I looked back on my life and remembered how much I enjoyed drawing characters as a child. Creating my own characters has always been a source of joy and energy for me. Then, I discovered the genre of art toys, and I was drawn to the idea of physically bringing my characters to life. I never imagined that this passion that stemmed from such a challenging time would eventually lead me to become an artist.
Q. Do you have a personal philosophy when it comes to creating art toys?
I try to bring on uplifting subjects in my work. I avoid topics like despair or loneliness, as my philosophy is to steer clear of dark, depressing matters in my art.
Q. You've created various characters like the "J," the 'P', and FRED. Were there any particular people or figures who inspired you to create these characters?
"P" was heavily inspired by my own experiences and emotions, reflecting on moments of happiness and the various feelings of different situations. On the other hand, FRED mainly references Black culture in the '80s and '90s. I was deeply impressed by the free, bold, strong spirit of the Black people from that era, and I wanted to capture those traits in this character. While these two characters come from different inspirations, they share a commonality of focusing on true self-identity.
Q. What gave you the biggest influence on your artwork?
The biggest impact on my work comes from emotions and memories. The various feelings I've had throughout my life often appear in my work, sometimes abstractly and other times more concretely. As I create pieces based on the past, I tend to incorporate nostalgic aspects as a wit. These naturally blend into the character’s features or story, adding an extra fun layer to the work.
Q. What kind of artist do you want to be remembered as?
I want people to remember me as an artist who creates warm, heartfelt works—someone whose pieces evoke nostalgic memories.
Q. You have studios in both Hongdae and Anyang - tell us more about those spaces.
In my Hongdae studio, I mainly work on the overall design. I also hold offline classes there, so I get a lot of energy, let alone from other creatives who share the space. In my Anyang studio, I focus on the physical aspects of the work, like post-modeling processes. It’s a more secluded space, so it helps me concentrate better.
Q. You're also a teacher to aspiring art toy creators; what advice would you give to them?
Creating your best work at the moment is great, but it's also important to show a spectrum of your creativity. Producing a lot of work and building your own brand should come first. There will come a moment for a masterpiece over time, into which you'll need to pour all your heart and soul. That's when you aim to do your best work.
Q. How was your collaboration with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?
It was an honor to finally collaborate with the sneakers brand I dreamed of working with since the beginning of my career. SEVEN EIGHT UNDER perfectly suits the art toy genre, so it was such an enjoyable experience.
Q. Is there a message you wish to convey through this project?
Rather than conveying a specific message through the work itself, I hope to encourage everyone who wants to take on a new challenge, looking at me starting a career this late.
Q. If you were to highlight a few key aspects of this project, what would they be?
My signature character, the 'P,' is wearing SEVEN EIGHT UNDER shoes in this project, layered with fun details to discover.
Q. What is your ultimate goal as an artist?
I want to build a life-sized Noah's Ark, like the one in the Bible. I don’t want to do it alone, but rather with the meaningful people I’ve met through my creative journey. SEVEN EIGHT UNDER is definitely one of those collaborators!
PF. KAKAO 78under
CONTACT 1877-5784
ADDRESS
702, 7F B-DONG, 59, SEONGSUIL-RO 8-GIL, SEONGDONG-GU, SEOUL
