Walk to Sotheby's - Deekay
English version.
It's ok, you have DeeKay.
Even if you explain NFT art in great detail, it can feel unfamiliar and difficult for those who are encountering it for the first time. However, explaining NFT art by referencing the works of NFT artist DeeKay Kwon can help immensely.
DeeKay is one of the Korean artists who is building a global reputation in the NFT art space. Especially in the animation (motion art) field, DeeKay has an enormous cult-like fandom based on world-class techniques and popularity. If you feel unfamiliar with NFT art, it's a good idea to start enjoying it through DeeKay’s works, as his cute and relatable animations bring us all closer to NFT art.
DeeKay’s Korean name is 권동욱. He immigrated to the United States when he was young and has been living there ever since. He began his career in animation in a small studio and gained his skills and recognition by working for Google and Apple. He then entered the world of NFT art through the introduction of his friend Gavin Shapiro, who started NFT art first.
A little faith that changed the life
DeeKay left his well-paid and stable job at Apple and went all in on NFTs in 2021. His friend's introduction may have had some influence on his decision, but there was a bigger reason. It was because of the trust of someone who DeeKay had never met before. A collector named 'Mondoir' showed consistent interest in DeeKay’s works by purchasing them in early 2021 when DeeKay first entered the NFT market.
Let's Walks Mondoir ownsFrom this point on, DeeKay’s eyes were opened to the value and potential of his own works in the NFT market, and ventures into the space in earnest. At that time, DeeKay was not well-known in the NFT market and only a few fans knew about him, but the firm belief in DeeKay of these fans moved DeeKay’s heart.
Mondoir wearing a Deekay hoodie. (on Twitter)Since then, Mondoir has continued to show support for DeeKay and has become a key figure in shaping 'Deekaymotion', a unique NFT artist brand that has now achieved unparalleled popularity and status.
Let's Walk!
Deekay's art collection is divided into three main categories: Let’s Walk series, 1 OF 1 (single edition), and limited edition works. LET'S WALK is an animation of a total of 100 walking characters, which was completed in just under 2 years. These were created through a total of 11 seasons – 9 characters were created each season with the exception of the final Season 11, where 10 characters were created to complete a total of 100 walking characters.
Let's WalkMany characters in the Let's Walk series were inspired by various figures and characters from DeeKay’s childhood: ranging from games like Super Mario, to cartoon characters like Goku, to sports players like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Lionel Messi, to musicians like 2Pac and Daft Punk, to DeeKay himself and much more. While it can be fun to discover each character that you recognize, understanding and appreciating the characters created by Deekay, or those related to him or the NFT space can add a different level of enjoyment.
Let's walks and things that inspried themNFT Guild on the far left in the picture is a work based on Mondoir's NFT, who as mentioned earlier is an early fan and supporter of Deekay. As a gesture of respect and gratitude towards Mondoir, DeeKay created this in his honour. In addition, he also created characters representing Bitcoin's creator, known as Satoshi Nakamoto, as well as the Bull Market and Bear Market, which were called Space Bull and Space Bear, to symbolise the fluctuating state of the NFT market.
"Let's Walk" series and NFTs that inspired themThe Let's Walk above is from a ’season that is based on famous NFT projects and personalities. Seerlight on the left is an artist who creates beautiful NFT artworks with a pastel-toned pink and blue color combination, and Let’s Walk portrays Seerlight holding a capsule. In the middle, DEAD FELLAZ and DOODLES are widely known as top tier NFT blue chips with a large fan base. Finally, on the far right, Cozomo de' Medici is one of the most famous art collectors in the NFT world and has a close relationship with Deekay. More on that below.
Walk to Sotheby’s
To commemorate the completion of the LET'S WALK series with 100 pieces, a single edition piece called 'Let's Walk Finale' was created and auctioned off at Sotheby's. This was not only the first time for a Korean NFT artist but also the first time for a Korean animator to hold an auction at Sotheby's.
LET'S WALK FINALE auctioned at Sotherby'sIn the auction held at Sotheby's in November 2022, Let's Walk Finale was sold to Mondoir for $214,200 (approximately KRW 250 million). It is a work coming full circle that demonstrates the strong bond between an artist and a fan, as the fan who had been supporting DeeKay from the beginning finally acquired the artwork that can be considered as the final version of the Let's Walk series.
In addition, the work is also a testament to DeeKay’s gratitude for the fans who have loved and helped create a community culture around his work, the significant changes of the status in the NFT market, and the time and experiences shared with fans. These sentiments are expressed in a candid manner through the 99 Let's Walks walking past the Let’s Walk character representing DeeKay, creating a unique and memorable experience for both the artist and fans alike.
Unprecedented quality - 1 of 1
Single edition works, including Let's Walk Finale, are highly priced as they are one-of-a-kind artworks. The creation of these 1 of 1 works requires a significant amount of time and effort, ranging from one to several months. As of February 2023, a total of 16 1 of 1 works have been created by DeeKay and minted on major NFT marketplaces such as SuperRare, Foundation, and Sotheby's.
• Artworks from 2022 (1 of 1)
Let's Walk Finale / Yin Yang / Life and Death / I♡NY
• Artworks from 2021 (1 of 1)
Destiny / Mario Metaverse / Animator Creating Animation / Happy Virus
Virtual Game / In The Zone… / Twitter Drama / 4156 x DeeKay Quarantine Life
Instagram Addict / Character Type / Skateboard Rides You
Mario Metaverse(left) | Virtual Game(right)Artworks are generally themed around life and lifestyle, games, social media, animation, and other related topics. Among these, DeeKay created artworks based on games such as Super Mario, or feature game characters frequently in the Let's Walk series, because he enjoyed playing games so much growing up that he even aspired to become a game developer when he was younger.
Work hard play hard(top left) | CryptoPunk #3759(top right) | Yin Yang(bottom)The materials that appear in the artworks include flowers, plants, rainbows, Let's Walk characters, spaceships, bananas (comedian/ Maurizio Cattelan's artwork), as well as NFT-related materials such as CryptoPunks and Ethereum. CryptoPunks is the most famous PFP (profile picture) NFT, and Ethereum is the main cryptocurrency used for buying and selling NFTs. The CryptoPunk that appears in the artwork is Deekay's own CryptoPunk, which has the number 3759.
The artwork "I♡NY" was created based on Deekay's experience of living in New York for 12 years. The piece depicts the bustling and diverse aspects of New York City, such as a guy dancing like Michael Jackson on the streets, spaceships and Spider-Man swinging around, and subway trains passing by. DeeKay and the Cozomo character also appear in the artwork, adding even more fun to the piece.
Various materials hidden in I♡NY"Quarantine Life" is a work created in 2020, and the two male characters who appear with DeeKay are his real friends, Jack and Paul. It depicts their lives together during the COVID-19 pandemic, with DeeKay’s “bed room” being the mattress under the stairs in the lower right corner of the screen.
Picture of a mattress under the stairs (left) | Capture of the artwork (right)In addition, each artwork has its own unique personality, so it is recommended to view each of them on Deekay's official website.(link below) You can also see various digital artworks other than NFT artworks on Instagram @deekaymotion.)
Who? Doggy Dogg?
DeeKay’s 1 of 1 artwork 'Life and Death' has a special connection to 'COZOMO DE MEDICI'. In the world of NFTs, many famous people like Madonna, Pharrell Williams, and COZOMO are actively involved.
COZOMO DE MEDICI twitterAmong them, Cozomo is a well-known collector in the NFT art world, known for not only his impeccable taste in art, but also his passion in supporting artists in the NFT space. He is also a writer who publishes a weekly NFT newsletter called 'MEDICI MINUTES' and shares his knowledge and musings with his subscribers.
Medici Minutes by COZOMO DE MEDICIIn September 2021, rapper Snoop Dogg posted a message on his Twitter account saying, "I'm @CozomoMedichi."
Snoop Dogg, who revealed himself as Cozomo, is a big fan of NFTs and owns a huge virtual land and mansion in Sandbox, the metaverse world. He is so committed to NFTs that he even hosts concerts virtually in the metaverse.
Snoop Dogg's Metaverse (Sandbox) concert scene.Snoop officially became a holder of DeeKay’s work in 2021, when he purchased “Destiny” for approximately 800,000 dollars (approximately 1 billion won). In 2022, he further cemented himself as one of DeeKay’s biggest collectors by purchasing "LIFE AND DEATH" for 1 million dollars (approximately 1.2 billion won).
Cozomo featured “Life and Death” as his pinned post on Twitter for almost a year to his 280,000 followers. When Cozomo opened his own art exhibition gallery named “Medici Gallery” in Hollywood in 2022, to commemorate the opening, DeeKay collaborated with Cozomo to create a piece called “Hollywood GM”.
"I'm sorry the artworks are expensive."
When DeeKay first moved to the United States, he faced severe financial difficulties, such as not having a proper bed and having to sleep on a second-hand mattress. Perhaps because of this, DeeKay has expressed his apologies to fans who find it difficult to purchase his artwork due to the high prices. Normally, artists tend to focus on finding collectors who are willing to pay more rather than worrying about fans who cannot afford to purchase their work.
DeeKay has implemented a policy called 'Early Access' to allow as many fans as possible to purchase his artwork at an affordable price. In the world of NFT art, there are many opportunities for artists and fans to communicate directly, and an artist's personality or temperament can have a significant impact on their fan base. DeeKay and his team's attention to detail and policies are likely to be one of the major reasons why the number of his fans has increased rapidly.
Fans organized an exhibition?
In November 2022, an exhibition called "I LOVE DEEKAY" was held at the Uncommon Gallery, a NFT-exclusive exhibition hall in Korea. The unique thing about this exhibition was that it was planned and organized directly by the fans. The fans created the exhibition posters, arranged the artworks, and even guided visitors through the exhibition and explained the artwork, without any involvement from a curator or DeeKay himself.
'I LOVE DEEKAY' Exhibition by fans of Deekay(Seoul, Korea)In the world of NFTs, the relationship between the artist, the artwork, and the viewer (fans) is interwoven in an organic way, functioning as a single team. This team is called a "community," and how healthy and steadily it grows has an absolute impact on the value of NFTs. Through the activities of fans, artworks are promoted, and as the number of fans increases, the artist's activities receive a boost, creating a virtuous cycle that enables the artist to broaden their exposure through continuous creative activity. In the unique NFT art ecosystem where artists and fans create culture together, Deekay's community could be considered a good example. (Anyone can communicate with the DeeKay community through the Deekayverse Discord link provided at the end of the article.)
Behind the Scene - Art that spreads happiness
Deekay, the artist, quickly gained recognition in the NFT market and became a world-renowned NFT artist in just two years. But behind his cute and fun animation works was over 10 years of DeeKay honing his skills and technique as an animator. Each scene was meticulously crafted, showcasing motion performances that even professional animators were amazed by. Over the course of two years, DeeKay produced more than 100 types of works.
Furthermore, DeeKay continues to showcase limited edition works such as Verified, Self-Control, and Work Hard Play Hard, and is actively engaged in artistic activities. This sets him apart from many artists who solely chase trends for monetary gain or even mimic the styles of famous artists to make quick sales.
Children falling in love with Deekay's artIt's not common to see artists who consistently develop their own art over a long period of time and establish their own unique styles and trends. And artists who maintain their dedication to their artwork without losing their original passion even at the highest level are even rarer.
"What is the secret to such consistency and success?”
In response to a fan's question about advice for artists trying their hand at NFTs, DeeKay offered the following answer:
'Ask yourself if you have the intention to create art even if you have no money. For me, I will create art simply because it makes me happy. Getting compensated for my creations makes me happy, but I am even happier when I can share my artwork with the world. However, regardless of your reason, if you want to be successful, remember these three words: Create good art.'
Social Media
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/deekaymotion
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/deekaymotion
• Discord: https://discord.gg/deekayverse
• Deekay personal website: https://deekaykwon.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deekaymotion
Artwork Collection
• Integrated website for each collection: https://deekaykwon.com/digitalcollectibles
• Platform for purchasing (minting) artwork
- 1 of 1: https://opensea.io/collection/deekay-1-1 / https://superrare.com/deekaymotion
- Limited edition works (editions): https://opensea.io/collection/deekay-edition
- Let's Walk: https://opensea.io/collection/letswalk
• Unofficial fan page: https://deekayverse-fan.com
