since 1998
The creative process
Tokki Code's
backup
The creative process of Tokki Code.
Document Created : 10 Jul 2023
Preface
Tokki Code is the unique drawing style created by Hong Haksoon.
During the process of documenting Wink Tokki's Circle World, he ended up developing Tokki Code. It is composed of symbols, shapes, and a unique algorithm. He named it Tokki Code by likening these characteristics to a programming language.
This creative work began in 1998, and new stories are still being recorded in the Tokki Book with Tokki Code.
As of 2023, Tokki Book consists of 12,000 pages. This volume may increase or decrease, as the process of adding new content and compressing it is repeated.
Between 1998 and 2002, Hong Haksoon completed the fundamental structure of Tokki Code. He designated his room as a mini Circle World, and it changed along with Tokki Code when it changed.
The completion of the basic structure of Tokki Code meant the emergence of the basic form of the Circle World. Hong Haksoon says, "The Circle World existed originally, and I am simply representing it through Tokki Code." During this time, he completed Tokki Books 0, 1, 2, and 3.
As of 2023, the Tokki Book consists of 9 volumes and is connected through various algorithms of Tokki Code. Hong Haksoon describes the overall structure of Circle World in one word as "Symmetric connection".
along with these, there are other important concepts in Tokki Code, such as "One dot within one circle," "Circles within circles, circles outside of circles," and the "Cosmos Clock." Detailed explanations of these will be introduced in the main text. Hong Haksoon collectively refers to these concepts as the "natural laws of Circle World."
Hong Haksoon says, "The paintings, animations, and NFT art that I have created and will create in the future are connected to Wink Tokki's Circle World, which is composed of Tokki Code." As an example, his painting works, such as "Wink Tokki and 24 Circles." and "Six Deer and Wink Tokki," have different styles, but they share the common feature of reflecting the form of Tokki Code and the worldview of Circle World. And inevitably, Wink Tokki is the protagonist.
Wink Tokki and 24 Circles 2016
Six Deer & Wink Tokki 2021
"Just as the sun rises when the moon sets and sets when the moon rises," Wink Tokki inevitably takes center stage as the central character in Hong Haksoon's art. He says, "In the middle of the Circle World composed of Tokki Code and the human world composed of human language, Wink Tokki winks."
When Wink Tokki first appeared in Circle World, it only showed its side profile. No one knew that Tokki could wink. When the time came, Tokki revealed its front profile and winked, becoming Wink Tokki. Wink Tokki winks because it receives Circle World's signals wherever it goes in the Cosmos. And it broadcasts these signals to the Cosmos, including Earth.
In summary, Tokki Code is developed to record the signals circulating in Circle World and Cosmos, with Wink Tokki at the center. All these stories are contained in the Tokki Book.
Hong Haksoon's diverse works of writing, drawing, and animation reflect the world depicted in the Tokki Book. The foundation of Wink Tokki's World is Tokki Code.
Now, let's delve into the creative process of developing Tokki Code.
Note:
"Tokki" means rabbit in Korean.
Wink Tokki is without gender.
What is Tokki Code ?
Main content
The Circle world, marked by Tokki Code.
Fun fact roundup by year.
1998
The beginning
I enjoyed drawing circles.
I found it fascinating that every time I drew a circle, a new shape emerged.
So I kept drawing circles.
'There is no identical circle.'
I began to enter the world of Wink Tokki.
1998
The Dot is Core
I discovered a new fact.
It was probably something universally known to humanity since ancient times, but it was a new discovery to me.
That fact was that there is a core within the circle.
I call this "One dot within one circle"
I marked the core within the circle as a dot.
1998
Shapes that were hidden
Inside the circle, there are triangles and squares.
Tokki Book 1
1999
The shapes that were hidden within the circle have emerged. The shapes do not reveal themselves on their own. When something happens within the circle, the shapes come into view.
The documentation of the circle is also a documentation of the shapes.
1998
Inside & outside of the circle.
New Space
The increasing number of drawing notes on circles and shapes means an expansion of new space in the Circle World.
I said this.
"Circles within circles,
circles outside of circles."
Tokki Book 1
1999
To document one space, it requires a lot of paper because it involves recording the evolving process of change.
Circle Tree
painting / 2003
I frequently created drawings and paintings that used a tree as a metaphor for Circle World. A tree starts from a seed, and a circle starts from a point. The branches, leaves, fruits, and flowers that extend from the tree align well with the phrase "Circles within circles, circles outside of circles."
1998
Tokki
The side view of Tokki's face
Shape Organism
Something emerged inside the circle.
I named it "Tokki." 토끼
Tokki always shows its side face, revealing only one of its two eyes.
This is because Tokki enjoys the fact that there is one dot (core) within one circle.
I classified Tokki as a "shape organism" because it emerged as a combination of shapes inside the circle. Tokki is the first shape organism of the Circle World.
Tokki Book 2
2001
"Tokki 토끼" means "rabbit" in Korean.
1999 ~ 2001
Connection
Idea transmission
When circles are connected to each other,
it means that their cores are connected.
I gave the nickname
"connection dot"
to the core (dot) of a circle.
Connected circles exchanged
their shapes with each other.
I called this "idea transmission."
During this process, an "idea swap" can also take place.
What could be inside the line that connects two circles?
For example, in the second volume of the Tokki Book, there is a chapter called "Connection of Four," which documents the events that unfold inside the connection line. Here are some pages from that chapter.
Tokki Book 2
"Connection of Four"
2001
1999 ~ 2001
Symmetry
Symmetry Connection
Circles exchange shapes.
Circles send and receive signals.
The circles are connected.
It's symmetry
In the Circle World, symmetry refers to a state where "idea transmission" becomes active on both sides and as a result, the "connection dot" becomes abundant.
Tokki Book 6
2015
Symmetry & connection are necessary for each other.
I combined these two and called it
"Symmetry Connection".
Small units of "Symmetric Connection" come together to form larger units of "Symmetric Connection".
This is the application of the natural law of the Circle World, "Circles within circles, circles outside of circles."
The "Idea Transmission" between two symmetrical circles being active means that there is a lively exchange of shapes between them.
"also refer to" means to mention or call something by a particular name or term in addition to other ways of referring to it. It indicates that there is an additional or alternative way of describing or naming something.
In a word, the true essence of Circle World becomes more emerge.
In Circle World, the term "symmetry" encompasses the concept of "connection."
"Symmetry" is the foundation of the Tokki Code.
symmetry moths
53-45cm, 2018
Hong Hak-Soon : Among all the living organisms on Earth, what is your favorite symmetry?
Wink Tokki : Moths and butterflies. They exhibit beautiful symmetry.
1999 ~ 2000
Parts & assembly
Tokki Book 2
Heart 2000
Thanks to the signal transmission among the circles, the shapes continue to change.
Some shapes come together and assemble when they meet. The shapes that have experienced "assembly" acquire roles and become upgraded as "parts".
I called frequently used parts "Favored parts".
When assembly is repeated, remarkable creations emerge.
I called this "assemblicity". 조립체
(This word is a compound of "assembled" + "entity". 조립된 + 개체 )
Assembled entities can appear in various forms, ranging from abstract objects to those resembling living organisms and machines.
In the second volume of the Tokki Book, an assembled entity called "Heart" emerges. It functions as an independent entity but can also serve as a component that assembles with other entities. The timing and manner of its assembly are determined by the signals of the circles.
The concepts mentioned in this document, such as "One dot within one circle" and "Symmetry Connection," continue to evolve Wink Tokki's Circle World. These concepts, like gears, mutually influence and sustain the Circle World. I refer to them as the "natural laws" of the Circle World.