In this month's spotlight on our blog, we're happy to feature TONA, a rising star in the street art scene based in Hamburg, Germany. TONA's work, known for its captivating stencils of playful children, has made a significant impact across the globe, particularly in Asia, where his art graces the streets of cities like Tokyo, Kathmandu, and Bangkok.
TONA's artistic journey began in 1999 with graffiti and evolved into the intricate stencil work that has become his signature since 2002. His passion for travel has taken him far and wide, allowing him to leave his unique mark in many parts of the world. Unlike many street artists who convey their messages through criticism or irony, TONA aims to deconstruct ordinary perceptions, inviting viewers into a dreamy and emotional dialogue.
This month, we share with you his TOTEMO NFT collection, DESTRUCTION IS THE NEW CREATION. This project, inspired by his time in Japan in 2019, showcases TONA's deep connection with the children who often gathered to watch him work. These children became the focal point of his art, their innocence and wonder captured in detailed stencils that TONA has since brought to life on streets worldwide.
Now, these enchanting stories of childhood are immortalized in TOTEMO's marketplace, where TONA's NFTs feature his signature kids' paste-ups. In a mesmerizing loop, these images are destroyed and rebuilt, reflecting the artist's ethos: art from the streets, for the streets.
In DESTRUCTION IS THE NEW CREATION, this exclusive collection of 6 pieces, TONA captures himself destroying several original physical artworks, leaving only the newer “digital” product. Using this method, the artist guarantees that there’s only one unique artwork that can’t be replicated in the future. TONA feels this process truly captures the natural process of street art destruction, stating “Destruction - normally through time, street art pieces degrade into something totally unique, even more than the original art itself. The key is to take the beauty and speed up the process of time”.
