Cover Jono Toh with his dog, Maxwell (Photo: Affa Chan/Tatler Hong Kong)
Jono Toh with his dog, Maxwell (Photo: Affa Chan/Tatler Hong Kong)
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Jono Toh is a new artist taking Hong Kong by storm. This month, ahead of his successful debut show in Hong Kong ‘You Tell Me’ at H Queen’s, he spoke to Tatler about what inspires him and why he’s determined to live his life bigger, bolder and brighter.
When you walk into Jono Toh’s home in Sai Wan, it’s immediately clear that there is an artist in residence. Think floor-to-ceiling mirrors, interesting light installations and a beautiful Gaetano Pesce striped Up chair drawing you into the living room. It’s eclectic and emotive, much like Toh’s art, which features bold colours, deconstructed circles and proportion-play.
“I’ve always been creative, leaning towards art, painting, sculpture or woodwork—anything that involves working with my hands,” Toh says. His childhood was fertile ground for his creativity to flourish: “I used to play a game with my father where I would draw something, then we would each take turns adding to it. For example, a wave that turned into the hair of a woman who had fish as lips. The lips were hooked to a reel being held by a teddy bear on a skateboard.” Seeing things beyond face value, and allowing his imagination to run wild is how Toh continues to view the world around him today.
Above Jono Toh (Photo: Affa Chan/ Tatler Hong Kong)
Jono Toh (Photo: Affa Chan/ Tatler Hong Kong)
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But the Singaporean-born, Australia-raised creative didn’t always set out to be a painter. In fact, after graduating from high school in Sydney, Toh’s love for art and design led him to create the streetwear label Bones & Buddha. A degree at the Fashion Design Studio at the Sydney Institute of Technology followed in 2008.
“My last collection for Bones & Buddha was spring-summer 2005. I realised then that owning my own label was not for me, so I spent the next 15 years designing for some of the largest brands in Australia—like Sportscraft, Saba and Witchery—before moving to New York in 2013 to lead design teams for global retailers like Ann Taylor, Loft and Joe Fresh,” he says. The fundamentals of design, including proportion, balance and colour theory are transferable skills that continue to shape his artistic process.
A move to Hong Kong in 2018 saw Toh manage the designs for Cobalt Fashion, an innovative global knitwear brand based in the city. But having creative freedom was what Toh craved most. “As a fashion designer, I had to balance the commercial needs of the brands [I worked for] and the clients’ needs. I had to look at what was trending and consider price points. With art, the only person I have to answer to is myself.”
Like many others, the pandemic was a catalyst for change for Toh. The restrictions in Hong Kong allowed Toh to reconnect with his love for painting. What started as a form of escapism to pass the time turned into laser focus. “I would focus on trying to paint a perfectly straight line, and in doing so, would completely zone out,” he says. Toh, who paints everything freehand, finds the patience and precision required to draw straight lines calming. “It’s therapeutic for me.” As for why he opts to paint with such bright colours, the reason is simple: “They make me happy, and that’s the effect I want it to have on other people when they view my work. I want my art to create moments of joy, engage people’s imaginations and spark playful conversation. I want my work to have an emotional impact.”
Toh left fashion behind to pursue art full-time in 2021. In December that year, he connected with the A2Z Art Gallery in Paris, and in July 2022, he exhibited his work for the first time ever at its Saint-Germain-des-Prés location. “I started receiving requests for commissions from collectors in London, New York, Sydney, Copenhagen, Miami and Hong Kong,” he remembers. “I never imagined my work would connect with such a global audience.”
His solo exhibition ‘You Tell Me” at H Queen’s in Hong Kong on July 14 and 15 was a tremendous feat for a new artist. Each of the 17 pieces on display explored the relationship between shape and colour. One could say that Toh’s exhibition had a monopoly on beautiful people that evening, with Hong Kong’s it-crowd, including JuJu Chan Szeto, JJ Acuña and Nadia Harilela, who came out to support his work. “I am super excited to exhibit my work for the first time in Hong Kong,” Toh said at his exhibition. “When people view my work I’d rather ‘you tell me’ what you see—and we playfully give meaning to it together.”
In September, Toh will exhibit with A2Z Art Gallery at DNA Shenzhen, an art fair created by the ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair. As for the future, Toh is just focused on getting better: “The momentum that I’ve experienced as an artist over the last two years has been incredible,” he says. “I’m focused on developing my visual language and new ways of expressing it, including exploring sculpture, as I think my work will translate well in 3D. I’m excited to be on this new creative path.”
Credits
Photography: Affa Chan/Tatler Hong Kong
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and business leaders to designers. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she curates star-studded events and builds the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
