Little Thunder’s “NOSEBLEED GIRL” Tells a Whimsically Mundane Tale
The Hong Kong-based artist sheds light on her creative process, her relationship with her Wacom tablet to the story behind her collaboration with DDT Store.
Little Thunder’s “NOSEBLEED GIRL” Tells a Whimsically Mundane Tale
The Hong Kong-based artist sheds light on her creative process, her relationship with her Wacom tablet to the story behind her collaboration with DDT Store.
Hong Kong-based artist Little Thunder has teamed up with DDTStore to release “NOSEBLEED GIRL,” her first-ever sculpture born from one of her otherworldly artworks. Known for her highly stylized illustrations and paintings that depict femininity in a mundane yet whimsical manner, Little Thunder is a name that is familiar to many Hong Kongers. Aside from the impact she has on the local art scene, the self-taught artist currently enjoys a fair share of support from fans worldwide via her Instagram account.
Although Little Thunder’s art style is highly characterized and consistent, there’s always an element of surprise embedded into her work – scrolling through her Instagram, you’ll never quite know what scenario or story she’ll place her ethereal female subjects in. Back in 2022, the artist surprised her fans when she began working on large-scale acrylic paintings – a deviation from her signature ink and watercolor works, which have become her signature over the years. Since then, Little Thunder has shown no sign of slowing down as her techniques continue to refine. Nowadays, her acrylic paintings present a dreamy sense of bewilderment with an almost digital-like smoothness.
In truth, the Hong Kong artist takes on a rather laid-back stance when it comes to planning her next projects. Just like that, Little Thunder has surprised her fans once again with her newest foray into sculptural art. Standing 6 inches tall, the “NOSEBLEED GIRL” sculpture is based on a namesake painting that Little Thunder completed at the start of 2024. Starting March 15, “NOSEBLEED GIRL” will be sold as a set with a downsized giclée print of its original painting within a limited time frame of 48 hours, exclusively through DDTStore.
Ahead of the launch, Hypebeast linked up with Little Thunder in her home ground to discuss everything from her creative process, her relationship with her Wacom tablet to the story behind “NOSEBLEED GIRL.”
How did the collaboration with DDTStore come about?
Having spent years making two-dimensional art, I’ve always wanted to translate my girls into something more three-dimensional, but I didn’t know how or where to start. So about a year ago, when DDTStore contacted me and suggested we collaborate on an art toy, I immediately said yes.
The sculpture is a direct translation of your recent painting “NOSEBLEED GIRL.” What’s the story behind the original artwork?
Its story is set in December 2044, when the world no longer has different seasons and it’s always hot. We get a snapshot of a girl in her swimsuit chilling in her room, where she’s indulging in a slice of frozen watermelon. While eating, she suddenly had a nosebleed – the juice of the watermelon began to fuse with the blood dripping from her nose. She’s then stuck in a gaze pondering whether she should wipe the blood from her nose first, or finish her slice of watermelon.
You also had an Instagram post last fall that revolved around an incident with fruits. Was there some kind of connection to this?
I reckon it might be some sort of law of attraction. The stuff I draw reflects on me in real life in some way or another.
“The stuff I draw reflects on me in real life in some way or another.”
While female subjects are almost always depicted in your work, is the element of nosebleed something you explored before?
In the past 10 years, I’ve been occasionally drawing girls with nosebleeds and it’s something that stems from my personal experience. I remember it so well because it was during elementary school and I was at an entrance exam.
I was alone in the exam room and my nose started bleeding. I didn’t have a tissue with me then and my blood just dripped all over the test paper. I was so embarrassed, but at the same time, I was fascinated by the striking contrast my blood had against the black and white test paper. It was beautiful.
You mentioned this is the first time you worked on a sculptural piece, how does that process compare to your usual practice?
I usually paint by myself, but this time I have to work with a team. Naturally, communication is a huge part of the collaboration, which isn’t something I’m particularly good at. Fortunately, the DDTStore teams understood my needs very well, so the entire process was smooth.
What was the biggest challenge for you when it comes to translating your artwork into something so sculptural?
In the early stages of this project, I made many prototypes that I wasn’t satisfied with. Then I realized that I was trying too hard to intentionally create a “three-dimensional girl,” which is why they all ended up rather soul-less. So then I tried using the same mindset for painting and drawing in the creation process for this sculpture, and it turned out well!
“In the past 10 years, I’ve been occasionally drawing girls with nosebleeds and it’s something that stems from my personal experience.”
Where do you find inspiration?
I think everything can be an inspiration – it just depends on whether we pay attention to them. For me, inspirations are like flying insects in a tropical rainforest. You’ll always catch some of it if you reach your hand out.
Are there any artists that you look up to?
There are way too many if it comes to painters and illustrators alone. But among the artists that I recently got to know in person, it’s Offgod. His work is very intriguing and fresh. I also really admire how his personality permeates his art.
The prototype of this sculpture was a large acrylic painting. How long does it usually take to complete a painting of this size?
For paintings about the size of a human, it usually takes me one to two weeks. But the preparation beforehand, from ideation to drafting, could vary from a couple of days to a few months.
On your Instagram, your Wacom tablet is quite the hot topic among your followers. Can you tell us about your relationship with it and what happened to it?
It’s a funny story. I often work on digital and by hand simultaneously, but at the same time, my creative space is rather cramped. Even if I’m painting on canvas, I’ll pause every so often to test out color combos on my computer. And so, my paintbrush would always accidentally leave marks on my tablet. Eventually, my Wacom tablet just naturally ended up in the colorful state it is now.
To be honest, I quite like how it looks and feels now. I tried cleaning it and wiping the paint away before, but it’s always stained soon after. I guess that’s just how it is. Some of my fans found it cool, but some would call me out on being wasteful and careless. I’d like to clarify that I’m all about cherishing and looking after my tools! My Wacom tablet has been with me for about 10 years and I use it every day. I’ve probably created thousands and thousands of drawings with it and I hope that one day, I can have it displayed at a museum.
“For me, inspirations are like flying insects in a tropical rainforest. You’ll always catch some of it if you reach your hand out.”
You’re quite active on Instagram. Do you see social media as a form of documenting your work and creative progress?
I think so! There are always ideas floating in my mind and I draw rather frequently, sometimes up to a few pieces a day. If we’re in the old times, I’d have enough to publish art books regularly, which wouldn’t be very feasible. But with social media, it’s so convenient! I can post and delete anytime, and it’s great to have a platform where you can easily access your old work. Also, I love the interaction I can get with my fans.
In fact, the reaction I got from showing my Wacom tablet on Instagram was great – I found it hilarious how people react so passionately whenever they see it. I’ll continue to post about it! [laughs]
You seem to always carry around a sketchbook. How often do you finish one of these sketchbooks?
I draw on it almost every single day. Even if I’m working on a big piece, I’ll pull out my sketchbook and doodle on it whenever I need a break. For me, spending time on my sketchbook is like resting. So on average, I’d say I use up one sketchbook every one to two months. It really depends, sometimes I’ll draw a few only, while other times I can draw up to ten sketches if I’m on a roll.
What is a typical day in your life like?
I’ll wake up around 11 a.m. and I’ll start cooking, while my husband makes coffee. I love drinking coffee and it’s an essential aspect of my day. After lunch, I’ll get on with housework. I draw and paint at home, which is why I’d like to keep my environment clean and ready for me to go crazy with work at all times. So I’ll draw and draw until whenever, but sometimes I’ll go to the gym and do my grocery shopping.
What three words would you use to describe the essence of your art?
Confidence, Fantasy, Aesthetics. When it comes to my art, I’m 100% confident. Even if the viewer isn’t completely sold on my ideas, I believe I can convince them eventually. That level of confidence is also expressed in the girls I draw.
I also want people to get the feeling that anything is possible, which is why I always try infusing fantastical elements into scenarios that seem mundane. As for aesthetics, that’s something I will never compromise on no matter what I’m drawing, because it’s really important to me.
Are there any mediums you’re hoping to experiment more on in 2024?
At this moment, nothing in particular. I’m quite random and carefree when it comes to making art and starting new projects. If there’s something I want to try, I’ll jump on it immediately.
For collectors, what do you think is the biggest difference between the sculpture of “NOSEBLEED GIRL” and its original painting?
A friend once asked me “Why don’t you make dolls or sculptures?” My art usually comes in the form of prints, paintings, art books and comics, but that particular friend of mine doesn’t read and he wanted to collect a piece of my work in a more sculptural form. That was a standpoint I never thought about before, which is now something I addressed with this sculpture.
