TIKTOK logo in SURREALISM art

Social media + art. This was a concept of social media logo in surrealism themed illustration which heavily inspired by Joan Miro style. No AI used in it. I drew it for a surrealism art appreciation event last year.

As any other social medias I've been into, the use of it (Tiktok) is merely as a hobby or showcasing some portfolios without delving too deep by scrolling the mixed contents in it and spending too much time without any beneficial gain. This illustration was for portfolio purpose only. Any use/copy/share/re-post of this illustration is not allowed.

SQUID GAME 2 (2024): Short Review, Actors' Controversy & Was it Inspired by True Story?

 

SQUID GAME 2 is South Korean dystopian survival thriller television series Squid Game season2, created by Korean television producer and writer Hwang Dong-hyuk. It was released on Netflix on December 26, 2024 with a total 7 episodes. It is a sequel from its original series in 2021.

It is set three years after Seong Gi-hun won the Squid Game in season 1. A little flashback to season 1, squid game or ojingeo game which was released on September 2021 with total 9 episodes, tells a story about Seong Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-Jae) gets fired from his job. His life is miserable. Seong Gi-Hun was offered by a stranger in a train station about a secret survival game, with a 45.6 billion won prize for the winner. He decides to take part in the game. Meanwhile, Cho Sang-Woo (Park Hae-Soo) is Gi hun's best friend which is like a brother to Seong Gi-Hun and vice versa. They grew up in the same neighborhood. Despite his poor family background, Cho Sang-Woo graduated from a prestigious university and found a good job. He now faces a crisis, due to embezzlement of company funds that he did. He decides to join the secret survival game with Seong Gi-Hun. The ending is tragic when you have to sacrifice everything just for money. 

Back to the 2nd season, Seong Gi Hun is finally canceled his plan on going to the United States  to see his daughter and instead returning to the games with the intention of stopping them once and for all. He once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of ₩45.6 billion. Unknown to him, his plan won't be easy to be done no matter how meticulous his plan was. The third and final season, which was filmed back-to-back with the second season, will be released this year in 2025.

As successful as it is, squid game also has its own Controversies surrounding the actors and story. Some actors are allegedly related to criminal cases such as sexual misconduct, marijuana, prostitution, DUI, etc. and inspiration for its story was said to be the case of Brothers' Home: South Korea's 1980s 'concentration camp'. As quoted from BBC; According to testimonies and evidence gathered from the site, detainees say they were used as slave labor at construction sites, farms, and factories during the 1970s and 80s. They were also allegedly tortured and raped, with hundreds dying under the inhumane conditions.The facility at Hyungje Bokjiwon has been compared to a concentration camp, but its story is not widely known, and nobody - to this day - has been held accountable for the atrocities that reportedly happened within its walls. Although it was not officially confirmed by the producer. 

 

As for personal review, this series is definitely not suitable for minor or below +18 and quite a good watch but somehow made me uncomfortable with gory and adult scenes. And I also have to say that the previous season was far more superior than this 2nd season. The thrill to what's next on the game, how they're going to be eliminated in the game and the prominent characters are not so intriguing as the first one. This is my fan art for the drama based on its poster. The iconic part from this series perhaps related to the simple green with white combination jumpsuit costume for the game participants, the pink soldiers costume and also the simple front man black leather coat. 

 

FASHION IN MANHUA (CHINESE COMIC): Zheng Shuyi's outfit in Accidental Love/ Only For Love manhua

I happened to read it randomly a couple of months ago on website for this interesting Manhua named Accidental Love /Only for love. Unfortunately, I didn't know how to pronounce the original title in Chinese language. 

It was released since last year in 2024 by author Qiao Yao with genre a mixed of romance, comedy, office, drama, and josei. This manhua is an adaptation from the novel which previously already adapted into live action drama played by Bai Lu and Dylan Wang in 2023. However, some people said the manhua has a bit different approach in storytelling. 

 

I was instantly hooked since the first time I read it in English version. Starting from the art, the story, and most of all the fashion wore by the female lead character, Zheng Shuyi. I would give the art a French kiss of 9.5 out 10, simply awesome. As for the story, although it might be a little cliche or cringe office - rich handsome young guy vs ordinary but pretty girl -slow burn romance, I still love it. The thing that I admire the most is the fashion. It seems like the author does really take her time in doing it to be able to show some great office attire examples for the characters, most of all the main girl. It ranges from coats, dress, blazers, casual clothes, hoodies, bags, etc.

 

I put some of the reference pictures from the original Manhua which belong to the rightful owner and not mine.

MOVING - The Superheroes Disguised as Ordinary People (Korean Drama 2023)

 

    Moving is a 2023 Korean drama which aired on August 9 - September 20. The story is about Kim Bong-Seok, Jang Hui-Soo and Lee Gang-Hoon who attend the same high school.    

   They look like ordinary students, but actually they have special abilities that they inherited from their parents. Kim Bong-Seok has the ability to fly with sharp senses. Jang Hui-Soo has excellent athletic abilities and she is able to rapidly recover from injuries, like being shot or stabbed. Lee Gang-Hoon has uncanny power and speed.

    These three students try to hide their special abilities from other people, while their parents struggle to protect them from being used by other and it is related to their past with secret government agency. 

    Based on webcomic "Moving ” by Kang Pool (published from February 2 to September 21, 2015 via Daum). I decided to watch it after I noticed the drama and the actors got a lot of awards in several occasions. I was pretty curious of what it had to offer in the story and It was indeed one of a great and out of the box Korean drama although I can't say if the theme or the idea of super power people is something new or original. It kind of reminded me a lot of marvel X-men mutant superheroes even some of the background story, school and such. The only thing different would be in this drama there is no flashy and colorful superhero costumes. Just special people with normal appearances.

   

    I give it 8.5 to 8.9 out of 10 and highly recommended to watch for adult. Beware the gory and bloody parts that might not be uncomfortable to watch. And the moral value would be: be kind no matter what. This is my fan art drawing based on one of the official poster.