18/05/2025

ON SUNDAY MAY 18, 2025 theSunday Special III

Latest works … this mural was created in collaboration with fellow street artist Andha Ras in March of this year for Tong Wah Confectionery in Kuala Lumpur.

“Ancient Hype” is a 2023 mixed-media mural featuring spray paint, wood installation and red carpets, created on a two-storey building for the Pompei Street Festival in Italy.

“But that actually became a turning point for me,” he said. “I learned how to be more rational and practical. Artists are usually quite emotional, but I learnt how to separate the two. When I’m creating art, I let myself be emotional, but I’m rational when it comes to business.” That period also marked a mental shift in how Chai approached freelancing. He began projecting himself as busy, even when he wasn’t. “When people called and asked if I’m free for a project, I’d say – ‘I’m only free on April 11, on April 12 I’m not available,’” he recalled with a laugh. “In reality, my whole schedule was empty, but you need to train your mind, educate your mind that one day your schedule will be full (for it to become true).” From Petaling Street to the world Chai’s big break came about a decade ago when Nando’s Malaysia commis sioned him to paint one of its buildings near Petaling Street. Although the mural no longer exists today, the project paid R̆ +LV IHH ZDV HTXLYDOHQW WR QHDUO\ PRQWKV¶ VDODU\ JLYLQJ KLP WKH ¿QDQFLDO runway to leave full-time employment once again and commit entirely to life as an artist. This time, armed with the business acumen he had gained, Chai made it work. He began growing his brand and his name DQG &KDLJR VWDUWHG JDLQLQJ WUDFWLRQ ¿UVW

in Malaysia and then beyond. Among his most recognisable local projects is the “Courage to Dream” mural on Menara 0 'DQJ :DQJL FRPSOHWHG LQ and recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the tallest mural in the country at the time. Last year, in George Town, Penang, he collaborated with fellow artist Azmi Hussin on “The Great Escape”, a vibrant mural at Hin Bus Depot, a creative hub for the community. His work also PDGH D VSODVK DW WKH 3LQN¿VK 0XVLF Festival at Sunway Lagoon, where a giant balloon mascot of Chaigo became a crowd favourite and one of the festival’s standout visuals. Internationally, his notable works in clude “Ready to Go”, a 25-by-25-foot mu UDO SDLQWHG LQ LQ 0LDPL¶V :\QZRRG Art District during Art Basel, one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art events. He has been invited to over FRXQWULHV IRU PXUDO SURMHFWV OHDYLQJ a colourful trail of Chaigo and creativity across cities worldwide. Chai attributes his success to his dogged determination and refusal to settle for anything less than his vision. “You can’t have a Plan B. If you have a Plan B, it means you are not committed and it won’t work. Failures don’t really matter to me. Most people focus on how many times they fail. But for me, the way I think is that I just need to be successful one time. So no matter how many times I fail, it’s all worth it,” Chai asserted.

A playful mural titled “The Great Escape”, created in 2024 by Chai and Azmi Hussin at COEX, features Chaigo reimagined as a car speeding away at George Town’s Hin Bus Depot.