Breaking The Icebreaker

by artist Kenji Teo

Kenji Teo’s works demonstrate a shift in how his image-based practice extends beyond the printed surface to engage viewers directly. While his visual language continues to draw from anime and character design, mentorship encouraged him to consider how images might be activated through interaction rather than remaining static. This led to the development and incorporation of viewing lenses that audiences can hold up and use as filters, revealing hidden words embedded within the prints.

The introduction of interactivity required Kenji to think deeply about both composition and presentation. Text and imagery had to be carefully considered so that meaning emerges only through participation, shifting the role of the viewer from passive observer to active participant. This development involved a period of prototyping, where colour contrast, text placement, and legibility were tested to ensure that the hidden elements could be revealed through the viewing lenses without overwhelming the image itself.

Printing the works on aluminium composite panels reinforces this expanded approach. The material lends physical presence and durability to the images, while the handheld viewing lenses introduce a secondary layer that mediates how the work is seen. Together, these elements reflect a practice increasingly attentive to audience experience, where image-making is accompanied by considerations of access, interaction, and discovery.

Medium: Digital UV print on aluminium composite

Size: 59.4 cm (height) x 84.1 cm (width)

About Kenji Teo

Kenji Teo is a hard-of-hearing visual artist who works across both two- and three-dimensional anime-style art. His practice is shaped by a deep interest in imaginative worlds and expressive characters, which continues to inform his visual approach. His works often carry a playful and vibrant energy, reflecting a strong engagement with character design and storytelling. Kenji works across both traditional and digital techniques, blending methods to explore the possibilities of the anime style he favours. With a keen eye for detail, he produces character-driven works that emphasise expression, narrative, and visual clarity through carefully constructed forms.