From Pen to Polygon – A Look into the Art Process of COCOON showcased the visual development and concept art behind COCOON, a critically acclaimed puzzle-adventure game by Geometric Interactive. This exhibition invited viewers into the creative process of Erwin Kho, the artist who shaped COCOON’s hauntingly intricate worlds. Through sketches, and digital renderings, From Pen to Polygon – A Look into the Art Process of COCOON traced the transformation of abstract ideas into the game’s surreal landscapes and otherworldly creatures, inspired by nature.

The artwork in the exhibition revealed the iterative journey of design, from the earliest pencil sketches to fully realized digital compositions. Kho’s art serves as the foundation for COCOON’s unique aesthetic, which combines organic textures with geometric forms, creating environments that feel alive and deeply immersive. Each piece highlights the delicate balance between simplicity and depth, a design approach that invites players to experience mystery and wonder as they delve into nested, recursive worlds.

Unlike traditional game art that often prioritizes realism, Kho’s work for COCOON emphasizes abstraction and symbolism, using minimal detail to evoke emotions and curiosity. This exhibition encourages visitors to consider how visual elements like colour, shape, and texture can create not only a game world but also a narrative atmosphere that lingers with players long after they put down the controller.

The exhibition showcased 51 images and the final game, COCOON.

COCOON was published in 2023, and it was developed by Geometric Interactive. COCOON has won several awards and was also nominated at the Bafta Games Awards ’24 for Artistic Achievement. The game is available for play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. More information on the game can be found at https://www.cocoongame.com/.

Erwin Kho has a background in visual communication and for many years worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. In 2017 he moved to Denmark to work on Geometric Interactive’s first title, COCOON, for which he was responsible as art director and art lead. You can see more about Erwin’s work at https://zerbamine.nl/.