Ep 31: Kenji Chai Vui Yong - On Life as a Street Artist (aka "Chaigo")

Kenji Chai Vui Yung is a popular Malaysian graffiti artist most
known for his alter ego, Chaigo the Stray. A dog that, if you’ve
ever been to Kuala Lumpur, you’ll have probably seen spray
painted all over!





But more than that, Kenji Chai has done plenty of mural art and
collaborations with companies such as Tiger Beer, Netflix,
Volkswagen, Uniqlo, and CIMB. His drawing of a giant cockerel on
the side of Nando’s building at Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock even
made it into the Lonely Planet Pocket Kuala Lumpur guidebook and
Lonely Planet Malaysia, SG & Brunei guidebook.





In this STIMY episode, Kenji Chai shares:


1:46: Coming from a broken home

2:41: Childhood love of comics, cartoons & storybooks
like Ninja Turtles

4:05: Changing his name to Kenji at the age of 15

4:57: Why Kenji thought all his dreams could be fulfilled in
Kuala Lumpur

10:31: His former street name, Black Fryday

14:35: Getting a job at Sakai Sushi

19:40: Doing free work to get his name out

20:18: Winning the Character Licensing eSport Asia 2010
Thailand’s Custom Toy Design Contest

24:57: Being hired to draw a giant cockerel for Nandos (his
first building mural artwork commission)

30:31: How Kenji got his numerous commissions while just
starting out

31:35: How “Chaigo”, his alter ego, was formed

34:07: The first time he (illegally) drew Chaigo at Kampung
Attap

36:33: The rules of street art to avoid getting caught!

37:42: Why does Kenji keep doing street art when it can land
you in jail?!

38:26: Why Kenji doesn’t always sign off on his art & how
people can trace it back to him

39:51: Working on 25-storey RED by Sirocco mural art over 21
days

46:04: Being filmed for art projects

49:13: How Kenji’s collaborations with other street artists
come about

51:06: Working with international artists like Gus Eagleton

52:19: Life transforming experience painting in Mongolia

54:26: How street artists like @Kaws make it big on the
international stage

58:31: What up & coming artists should do to build their
careers

1:00:43: Don’t waste time on haters

1:01:48: The importance of social media 






Show notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/31