Tobi Wong was born Donald Tobias Wong on June 10, 1974 – May 30, 2010 in Canada. He studied Art and Architecture first in Canada then later in New York. Subversive art movements such as Dada and Fluxus influenced the type of work he enjoyed. He was also known for using work by others and used the word paraconeptual to describe the work he did.
On May 30 2010 Wong was found dead at the age of 35, officially of suicide (he hung himself) in his New York apartment. Wong had suffered a condition called Parasomnia which is the ability to perform elaborate tasks like cooking 3 course meals and in the end hanging himself while during a state of sleep.
It is interesting that he called his work paraconceptual as 'para' means 'to protect' e.g. parachute and he had protect me from what I want tattooed onto his arm. Another meaning for para is the greek prefix origin which has it mean beside, adjacent and resembling and also abnormal. This is fitting for Wongs work as his work was described as "working alongside the mainstream and resembling it, but also subverting the mainstream with beautiful abnormality."
One of my favorite pieces of work by Tobi Wong is called the Ballistic Rose, a rose made of bullet proof material and worn as a brooch. It is meant to protect the wearers vital organs from tragedy. Once again in Tobi Wongs work there is the theme of protection.
Information on Tobi Wong acquired from:
Images from top to bottom aquired from:
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