Hello Toki;-) :Hye Rim Lee, 2002

Hye Rim Lee: Hello Toki;-) 2002

MIC Gallery
Saturday 6th July
06.07.02 - 03.08.02

Using the plastic and ultra-cute visual vocabulary of Japanese anime and manga Hello Toki is a journey into a fantasy world of madness and sexuality. Consisting of three works, The Bunnies and the Bees (video projection), Bunny 3 (short film), and Hello Toki (installation), featuring different variations of the same character, the bunny girl ‘Toki’. Together they explore themes of fantasy, madness, emerging sexuality and sexual innuendo. In the background is a discussion on the differing interpretations of popular culture when it is transposed onto different cultural landscapes.

“For me art should be fun. Art doesn’t have to be some confusing abstract in-joke, but can be accessible to everyone. If art needs an audience to exist, then the greater the audience, the higher the existence,. If I can create art that communicates to a greater number of people, then i have achieved something.”

“I want to explore aspects of fun, dream and fantasy and popular culture. My works will be designed to evoke multi-sensory sensation.”

“My basic maxim is ‘just for fun.’ While the creation of work involves some level of personal anguish and stress, ultimately the result should be rewarding and my motivation is to have fun.” - Hye Rim Lee Hello Toki is a new work from Auckland-based artist Hye Rim Lee. Born in Korea, a former opera singer, she is currently studying at Elam.