Telling old tales with a new voice
- Enola reinterprets his main subject, Korean traditions, with a modern eye
- His practice combines hand drawing and digital colouring
- He produces clothing items featuring his own illustrations
After many years of working in exports for a steel company, Kunil Chae adopted the name Enola Ton, his artistic alter ego, in 2018. “I needed to earn a living, but working just for money had become frustrating,” he recalls. This pushed Enola to go back to his true passion, illustration. Even though he had never studied the craft formally, he learned it on his own by drawing tirelessly since childhood. Soon, Timidtales creative studio and shop, based in a lively area of Seoul, Insadong, was born in collaboration with fashion designer Lea Kim. Together, Enola and Lea produce clothing items that feature his own elaborated illustrations. “When we study our products, my drawings always come first," he explains. “They are our primary focus and ultimate goal."
Interview
- What techniques do you use for your creations?
- I always combine hand drawing and digital colouring. The printing techniques are what changes the most, depending on the material I am printing on. I use digital printing for clothing, oil-based inks and silk-screen techniques for paper, and dye-sublimation transfer printing for polyester. Experimenting is incredibly fun and exciting.
- Where does your inspiration come from?
- I am primarily inspired by the society we live in, its history, Korean culture and my own experiences. I have been deeply influenced by the symbolism and colour palette of Korean traditional decorative arts and paintings. On the other hand, I do not have a very strong connection with the modern K-pop culture.
- What are your favourite subjects?
- I enjoy Korean proverbs and traditional folk tales. I interpret them in a modern way that reveals truly diverse meanings, which is why I love them so much. And they are so many! Not only has Korea, a peninsular nation, developed a unique culture, but its mountainous terrain has also fostered distinct cultures in each region.
- How do you combine tradition and innovation in your drawings?
- In my works, traditional imagery coexists with mechanical imagery symbolising innovation and technology. One of my signature illustrations, for example, features a woman wearing a hanbok, the traditional clothing of Korea. She also wears wireless headphones and plays an electric gayageum, namely a modern version of our traditional string instrument.
Enola Ton is a rising star: he began his career in 2018
Works
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Enola Ton
