HK Magazine: What, exactly, is the deal with PikPik Zoo?
ZoeLydia: I created PikPik for an artistic project one of my friends was spearheading. Although the project didn’t work out, I decided to carry on with PikPik. She’s a panda that can transform into other characters, such as an octopus or a balloon. This gives me some artistic freedom with the character.

HK: This isn’t your full-time job. Why do you spend so much time on PikPik?
ZoeLydia: The appreciation and support I receive really keeps me going. Even a faint smile on the face of one of my exhibition’s visitors will make me happy. I can tell their personalities based on which of my works they prefer.

HK: You took this exhibition around the world. Any funny stories?
ZoeLydia: In Danish, apparently, PikPik means “dick dick.” Some people in Copenhagen therefore found my exhibition a little bit odd. One guest told me that pandas have the smallest penis in relation to overall body size, which is why it’s so difficult for them to reproduce. In this context, the Danish interpretation of the name really works.

HK: Have you always been an artist?
ZoeLydia: Nope. In university I studied engineering. Half a year later, I quit and applied for a creative media degree. But I ended up in the arts via engineering—I won a free trip to Europe thanks to an engineering competition. That inspired me to read more about the arts.

HK: Besides PikPik, what else do you do?
ZoeLydia: Oil portraits. I like painting living things—I want to bring their soul into my works. I once had a buyer demand to purchase an unfinished work without seeing the final product. She only knew about the details, and she was really willing to dig deep into her pockets to pay for it. She wasn’t affluent, she hadn’t met me before, and she didn’t know the model. She had to pay in two installments. That was very encouraging to me.

HK: What are your future plans for PikPik Zoo?
ZoeLydia: I’m currently working with a French decal company to produce wall decals, which will be out in two months. I also plan to finally introduce PikPik to Hong Kong and have designed some tote bags with the character.

Grab PikPik Zoo handmade totes at www.zoelydia.com