We’d like to introduce you to all participants of Art Market Jakarta 7 that will be held on April 28-30, 2017 at Kuningan City, South Jakarta. One of them is Dewi Tobing. Read our Q&A below:
Catalyst Arts (CA): Tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you came to begin your career in illustration.
Dewi Tobing (DT): Hi! I’m a freelancer works in graphic design and visual art in Surabaya. I started my career in illustration when I was busy doing my final project in the middle of 2015. At first, I just casually uploaded my colourful artworks on social media and apparently the response was quite great. So I kept practising until I found my style and felt comfortable with that style, which is my monochromatic characters. I then tried to submit my portfolio to various exhibitions and art markets and got accepted, so I had to create products. That was why I created my brand Obie. Obie’s product range is not many: wooden doll, art print, and also fashion products lately.
CA: What kind of artworks or products that you prepare for Art Market Jakarta 7?
DT: Wooden doll, art print, art frame, pin, key chain, scarf, sticker, t-shirt, notebook, and some new products such as outerwear, sweatshirt, tote bag, and sling bag.
CA: Tell us about your favourite product from your collection!
DT: I love all my products, but my most favourite ones are wooden doll and outerwear. I love working on wooden doll because I can paint and create character the way I like. Obie’s wooden doll is different than other wooden dolls because I paint each one of them differently. I want the collectors feel theirs are special, hence limited edition. As for the outerwear, it is my first fashion product that I worked on everything, starting from choosing the material, the drawing on fabric technique, thinking of what to do with it, etc. It was a challenge for me to sell a product that I never made before and to make a product that really suited my preference.
CA: What is your plan for your brand in the near future?
DT: I want to develop more product range and bring Obie to participate in other art markets in other countries so more people aware of Obie. I also want Obie to be known as a Indonesian brand.
CA: Tell us how to find out more about your brand?
DT: I have website: www.tobingdewi.com/obie and Instagram @obie.id. For offline stores, you can check Naiise in Singapore, and soon in Toko Konsep, Bali.
For more info about Art Market Jakarta 7, please visit this link: bit.ly/artmarketjakarta7