Today’s Culturati interviewee is the artist Park Hyunki (aka DOLDOLBOY)!

Q1. Nice to meet you! Please introduce yourself.

 hello! I am Park Hyunki, a digital artist working under the name of DOLDOLBOY. I majored in communication design at university, and I am working as a designer in two roles. The first role involves working on overall realistic content projects in the field of graphic design and VFX (visual effects). The second is DOLDOLBOY, which I created in 2017 as my persona. I created a character with a worldview to tell the story of DOLDOLBOYSCLUB (from which DOLDOLBOY originated). 

Q2. What is a digital artist?

In a broad sense, artistic work based on digital media, such as graphic software, is called digital art, and a digital artist is somebody who creates such work. Digital art conveys an artist’s story through digital works created using 2D programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Procreator, and 3D programs such as C4D and Blenders.

Q3. What made you decide to do this job?

Traditional art such as painting and sculpture needs sufficient workspace, but digital art is not restricted by space. Also, the connection between the web and SNS is attractive because of the way that digital art can be displayed. As long as you make good use of social media, you do not need to promote work separately.

Q4. I heard that you are famous for your artwork DOLDOLBOY; please explain it to me.

DOLDOLBOY is a digital character that I created as my persona in 2017. He has a bouncy body and simple, formative beauty focusing on projecting a joyful feeling. DOLDOLBOY is a member of DOLDOLBOYSCLUB, which is a virtual worldview I created. The three friends of the DOLDOLBOYSCLUB—DOLDOLBOY, EGO, and DOLCAT—were created based on my joyful childhood experiences in the 90s, telling the story with a combination of contemporary culture. I want to serve as a reminder of the pleasant memories of childhood that everyone has. This is the reason I created this artwork. Using 3D digital paintings, a series of artwork consists of short animations, concrete objects, wood standing boards, and toys. I am working with a variety of media, from digital to physical media. By mainly utilizing the form of items such as the representative keyring of EDC (everyday carry) with minimal materiality and space, anyone can join the DOLDOLBOYSCLUB and become a DOLDOLBOY, providing joy to those who love DOLDOLBOY.

Q5. Is there a work or exhibition that you remember the most?

The exhibition Pack Week 2022 held by the cultural artist agency Pack Systems in 2022 was the most memorable. The exhibition was held at Platform-L's Open Floor in Gangnam-gu, and there was a community session where about 60 creators could interact with visitors. The community session interacting with other artists and visitors made it memorable because I could receive various reviews and feedback on the spot. Screenings and live performances were held at the same time, making it a very diverse exhibition. It was also good to see the works of writers working on a small scale.

Q6. I know you have participated in many exhibitions, some of which I have visited. Are there any current or upcoming exhibitions you are participating in?

There is a group of digital artists who are currently giving each other feedback. But, sadly, no exhibition is being held now. We are planning to hold a team competition sometime in 2023, though.

Q7. Please explain to me the most difficult part of planning and embodying your ideas.

For me, the process of finding subject matter for my work is the most difficult. The subject matter can be a story around us or a story about the author. When the subject matter is interesting, I can devote myself pleasantly to starting my work. Therefore, the subject matter is the most important and, at the same time, the most difficult to find because it is the beginning of the work creation process.

Q8. Is there anything you want to tell the students who will appreciate your exhibition for the

first time?

As visitors, you can think of your own pleasant memories. You can imagine what kind of story they tell in a simple form. As the reason I create my work is to give joy, I just want you guys to feel enraptured!

Q9. What is your ultimate goal as an artist?

As an artist, my ultimate goal is to live a healthy life communicating with the world through my work while maintaining a healthy balance between life and work. I just want to live my whole life as an artist until my last day. I feel that this is my mission.

Q10. What advice would you give to students who want to become artists like you?

Do not be obsessed over media and skills. First, try to create your own story and world, and then continue slowly. Do not give up and keep trying. Express yourselves continuously in any way! Anybody can become an artist!