Tokebi
Tokebi | |
|---|---|
Tokebi design used by heavy metal band Mastodon | |
| Born | Bernal Aguilar 1981 (age 43–44) Guatemala |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Psychedelic skull illustrations, Album artwork for international bands (e.g., Mastodon), Lowbrow art movement, NFT digital art |
| Movement | Lowbrow |
| Website | www |
Bernal Aguilar (born 1981), also known as Tokebi (stylized as TOKEBI) is a Guatemalan digital artist, illustrator, and university professor, best known for incorporating skulls, bright neon colors, and a kitsch aesthetic into his work.[1][2] Tokebi gained recognition when the Grammy-winning heavy metal band Mastodon personally selected him to design their merchandise for the 2019 European Tour.[3] Tokebi is especially popular among rock bands, rappers and DJs,[4] and is seen as one of the international ambassadors of the Guatemalan lowbrow movement.[3]
Career
Tokebi's artistic career began in 2010 on the streets of Hongdae, Seoul, where he sold his pieces on prints and t-shirts, gaining recognition in local media for thriving as a foreigner.[5][2] He adopted the name Tokebi while living in South Korea, inspired by the dokkaebi (goblins) of Korean mythology, mischievous figures who reward good people and trick the wicked.[6] In 2014, Tokebi with a group of local and international artists founded and participated in several artistic collective exhibitions with the aim of uniting international and Korean artists called Nothing Serious I and Nothing Serious II respectively, in Seoul, South Korea.[3] However, most of his work is related to the music industry, especially in the indie, rock, hip hop and electronic music scene, working with bands like Grammy winner Mastodon,[4] Calcium, and local bands in United States, Australia, Europe, among others. Tokebi is currently a professor at Universidad del Istmo in Guatemala,[3] and his artistic career expanded into the world of non-fungible assets (NFTs), becoming the first artist in Guatemala to launch an NFT while being supported by Polygon blockchain.[7] In 2022, the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala enlisted Tokebi in the National Artist Registry. [8]
References
- ^ Blake, Winston (2019). Infinite Worlds Science Fiction Magazine. United States: Infinite Worlds Science Fiction Magazine. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-578-54174-7.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Jeraldy (9 August 2013). "El Universo del Artista Guatemalteco Tokebi". Al Día. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d de León, Ingrid (19 June 2019). "El guatemalteco que trabajó un arte gráfico para Mastodon y tiene otros proyectos por el mundo – Prensa Libre". Prensa Libre. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b Preety, Patty (June 16, 2019). "Guatemalan Lowbrow Artist Tokebi Chosen by International Band Mastodon for the Creation of Their 2019 European Poster Tour and Merchandise". The Cult Hub Tamil. Maalai Malar. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ^ García, Rogelio (October 16, 2015). "Artista Guatemalteco Triunfa en Corea del Sur". Nuestro Diario. Archived from the original on February 1, 2001. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ Bak, Mikyung (December 2014). "The Folktale Hokpuri Yongkam and the Visual Representation of the Korean Dokkaebi" (PDF). Blucher Design Proceedings. 1 (5): 231–236. doi:10.5151/despro-icdhs2014-0028 – via Blucher.
- ^ Aguilar, Bernal (December 17, 2021). "NFTS: Una transformación en el arte". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). Guatemala. Prensa Libre. p. 20,21. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ The Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala, General Directorate of Arts (25 November 2022). "National Artist Certificate" (PDF). Tokebi. Retrieved 15 December 2022.