Koala Qee

Okokume, Laura Mas Hernandez alter ego, is an illustrating artist from Mataró (Barcelona). Since she was very young, she has covered a wide range of artistic techniques, as oil, coal or mud among other materials. ​ She is considered herself part of the Lowbrow movement (surrealist pop) and films as Studio Ghibli (Hayao Miyazaki) have helped her to find an affinity to the naïf art style. Okokume has been influenced by other films as Akira (Katsuhiro Ôtomo), creating unconsciously characters with great similarities to the “elder kids” in the film. Turquoise faces with whitish hair along with bodies in decomposition. According to the artist, bodies reach their immortality in a natural process: the passage to death. The work of many artists like Tara McPherson, Yoskay Yamamoto and Tomer Hanuka, have inspired her to find the way to her current style. ​ Okokume works particularly with acrylic paints but she always plays with mixed techniques. She likes to experiment with all kind of materials that arrives to her hands and she could be called self-taught because she puts into practice everything she discovers. Her work is captured on various platforms, such as art toys, sculptures, paintings, sheets, wood, walls and others. Qee Bear is a designer toy created by Toy2R, a Hong Kong-based company founded by Raymond Choy. It is part of the Qee (pronounced “key”) series, a line of customizable, anthropomorphic figures that became a major influence in the global designer toy movement. Qee Bears have a rounded head, stubby limbs, and a signature “Q” shaped keychain attachment, allowing them to be used as collectibles or keychains. Like BE@RBRICK, Qee Bears come in DIY (Do-It-Yourself) blank versions, allowing artists and collectors to customize their own designs. Available in multiple sizes, typically 2.5-inch mini Qees, 8-inch medium Qees, and larger collector editions. Toy2R has worked with international designers, brands, and pop culture franchises, including collaborations with Tokidoki, Michael Lau, Adidas, and even Star Wars. Qee Bears were one of the earliest urban vinyl collectibles to gain international recognition in the early 2000s, helping establish the designer toy movement alongside figures like Dunny (Kidrobot) and BE@RBRICK (Medicom Toy). Though they’ve been somewhat overshadowed by newer toy trends, Qee remains an iconic piece of designer toy history.