Simone Legno
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Simone Legno | |
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| Born | Simone Legno 16 June 1977 |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation(s) | Artist Graphic designer |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Known for | tokidoki |
| Partner | Kaori Matsumoto |
| Website | www.tokidoki.it |
Simone Legno (Italian: [siˈmoːne ˈleɲɲo]; born 16 June 1977) is an Italian artist best known for the creation of the tokidoki brand. Legno's designs are influenced by his interest in Japan and its culture, as well as street art and graffiti.[citation needed]
Early life
[edit]Legno was raised in a Catholic family in Rome.[1] After dropping out of college where he studied political science, Legno studied at the European Institute of Design in Rome. Legno built tokidoki as a personal website around 2001.[2]
While in school, he was a huge fan of Japanese art and culture and wanted his own website. He would go to Japanese cultural institutes. All of his art works were inspired by books from Lonely Planet, prints, Japanese art books and posters. All of his work was centered around and about Japan.[2] In search of a Japanese word, he decided upon the word "tokidoki", which means "sometimes". Tokidoki is the hope and the hidden energy everyone has inside them. Once in an interview, Legno expressed"It gives us the strength to face a new day and dream about something positive and the hope that something magical will happen to us"[3] Tokidoki is a "mixture of visual inputs, cultures and perfect blending of opposites living together".[3]
Career
[edit]Legno's career started when he was still in school in Italy, where he created a website as a visual diary and platform to showcase his portfolio of works.[4] With this website he created various illustrations, advertisements, designs, and other freelance media for clients.[3] He was then discovered and presented a partnership by Pooneh Mohajer and her husband Ivan Arnold — co-founders of the American cosmetics brand Hard Candy.[4] In 2004, Simone Legno moved to Los Angeles to develop his tokidoki merchandise and art, where he launched his artistic career with the help of his 2 business partners (Ivan Arnold and Pooneh Mohajer Arnold). Simone Legno has definitely surprised the contemporary world with an art collection which is "cute, playful and pure, yet provocative, [and] sophisticated."[3]
Legno's portfolio website was listed as one of the top ten websites of the week by The Independent in 2003.[5] This caught the attention of Hard Candy co-founder Pooneh Mohajer and her husband Ivan Arnold. The two contacted him and after meeting, they formed the tokidoki business venture.[citation needed]
Legno's work includes characters such as the "Moofia", "Cocomando", "Wild Boys", "'Til Death Do Us Part", and "Cactus Friends", which include personified cows, tigers, and monkeys, or Japanese inspired characters in bright outfits. Legno also creates acrylic on canvas works featuring "more modern, fashionable versions of the women found on classic Japanese woodblock prints".[6]
In July 2023, a 400-page monograph titled "tokidoki – The Art Of Simone Legno" was launched which compiles his art and business projects over the year.[7]
Since relocating from Rome to Los Angeles, Legno's art has become prominent in the pop culture scene.[8] As stated by Legno: "Tokidoki is a happy world... that I imagine, live and dream of".[3]
In October 2024, Legno unveiled Luce, a cartoon mascot for the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee.[9]
Gallery representation
[edit]- Hong Kong, K11 Art Mall.[4]
- Vinyl Toys, art-skateboards, pin badges, jewelry, watches, knitwear, sportswear, accessories, shoes, stationery and more to come.[10]
- tokidoki distributes its products to Nordstrom, Macy's, Fred Segal, Karmaloop and approximately 1000 boutiques in more than 60 countries worldwide.[11]
Past projects
[edit]References
[edit]
- ^ Legno, Simone. "Post". Instagram. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ a b Yan, Marjorie (4 May 2011). "Tokidoki creator Simone Legno to speak about his career as part of CEC's speaker series". The Daily Bruin. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Interview by Katie Maltby. Kawai Connoisseur (2009).
- ^ a b c "Tokidoki Food Art Festival @K11 Hong Kong". artitute.com. September 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ Pro, Ash (4 January 2003). "The 10 Best Websites of the Week". The Independent. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ Darwin, Liza. "The insiders: Paul Frank and Simone Legno", Nylon, November 15, 2010.
- ^ Tan, Sumiko (29 October 2023). "The man behind the wonderful world of tokidoki and its more than 1,000 characters". The Straits Times.
- ^ High Speed Productions, Inc. "Simone Legno x Mikasa at GR2 Today." Juxtapoz, July 29, 2008.
- ^ "Vatican unveils new cartoon mascot for Catholic Church". Sky News. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "Revolutionart's guest for Ethnic edition: Simone Legno". Revolutionart. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Tokidoki". Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
- ^ "Fox Hotel in Copenhagen".
- ^ "Vianet for ProjectFOX". Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2020.