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Graffiti has always been a dirty word for a dirty art form that blights our city’s walls and public properties. Yet, all of a sudden, there is a public outcry to save the city’s treasured illegal murals painted by men under the cover of darkness. Vatsala Devi sheds some light on the colourful world of graffiti.

Night after night, indecipherable tags and secret codes are scrawled on railway sidings and pedestrian bridges, while spray paint smears every other shop-front façade or building walls, dilapidated or otherwise. Most passers-by are immune to the messages, while others are displeased by the visual intrusion into their daily commute.

Is it possible that graffiti has gone through a facelift and is no longer termed as vandals’ work of destruction but rather a facelift to the city? Today, graffiti has reached new heights of popularity and acceptance. Perhaps it’s because the emerging generation of artists is less concerned with painting illicit pieces for the benefit of their tiny community than with attaining wider fame and bigger audiences. Perhaps it’s because they are no longer constrained by the medium of spray paint on walls and are now incorporating all kinds of street furniture – from signs to statuary – into ad hoc installations, and impulsive public interventions. Either way, the widening of the term graffiti to encompass street art and any other combination of art has led to an avid market for these works.

Home Grown Talent

Malaysia may not immediately spring to mind when discussing hot street art locations, but much of the country is now embracing its disenfranchised artistic “vandals”, now lauded as “street artists”. One such artist, Kenji Chai, is tagging Kuala Lumpur and other states with his signature work of art; some in the name of fun while others for good causes.

Kenji, who hails from Sandakan, Sabah, goes by the pseudonym Black Fryday, needs no introduction in the street art scene. His affair with paint and colours began a long time back, at the tender age of three and he said nothing much gives him the satisfaction like getting his hands dirty with paint even now. Although he only started playing with spray when he moved to Kuala Lumpur, ingenuity runs in the family. “My sister is a pianist and my mother is a hair stylist in Sandakan, while I am a street artist. So in one way or another, my family members are all part of the creative industry,” he said. “My mother used to tell me that even as a child I was always interested in drawing. I would doodle in my exercise books. Now nothing much has changed as I’ve taken to doodling on abandoned walls,” said the full-time graphic designer with a laugh.

Unlike many others who moved to Kuala Lumpur for educational or career purposes, when Kenji moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2000, it was to live life in the fast lane. “Back in Sandakan, I felt like I couldn’t really adapt to the life there, as people there are generally laid-back. By the age of 13, I already knew my next destination was going to be Kuala Lumpur,” he said. “After graduating, I found out that no colleges back home offered the course I wanted to do, so I enrolled in the Arts and Design course at Central Academy of Art. While I enjoy the fact pace of the city, I sometimes find myself missing the relaxing vibe of my hometown,” he said wistfully.

Changing The Landscape

His interest in arts and design is evident, as he goes around the city and other parts of the country spraying streets and abandoned buildings with his signature drawings. While many would call it vandalism, others appreciate the raw talent that is required to see, feel, and create art wherever the opportunity arises. Graffiti and street art have superceded their previous less-than-favourable reputations and are now lauded as art forms transforming the cityscape.

Admittedly, there will always be a steady stream of teenagers who feel compelled to spray their immature artistic seed across any available surface, so there is a thin line that separates graffiti from street art, explains Kenji. The talented lad feels that in the past, the oppressed minority group used graffiti to create their own identity, and dictate their territories. It was seen as a mark of rebellion, influenced by their ego.

Kenji was 27 when he discovered his interest in spray can art, and has come a long way since the first time he tagged his first graffiti on a wall in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur with the letters BFD, which stands for Black Fryday.The graffiti, he admits, was an ugly effort and is thankful that the authorities painted over it.

“My foray into street art started in 2008 when I found the arts and design scene getting a little boring for me. Everything was computerised and it was becoming easy for people to download programmes and become self-acclaimed designers. I knew this wasn’t the path I had set out to carve for myself and I needed to do something new to support myself,” he points out. “So I took to the streets and started painting on walls – something that brought back childhood memories and made me happy.
People started noticing my work, and that is how I became a street artist.”

The Passion Within

Although commercial projects bring in the money, Kenji explained that he doesn’t want to lose the passion he had with him when he first started dabbling in street art. “I try to limit the number of commercial projects, as they can make one lose interest. The objective of street art is obvious – it belongs on the streets for the public to see,” he explained.

Not surprisingly, Kenji’s interests lie in making interactive graffiti, where public can relate and also express their creativity through his drawings. “Street art is like a billboard, and when the painting is on the street, the likelihood of the messages reaching out effectively to a mass audience is bigger than when we paint on a paper or canvas. How many of us make time to visit art galleries or stores? Not many,” says the man who also enjoys connecting with street artists from other regions, in his free time. “The public are still under the impression that street art is a form of vandalism and I plan to change that perception by giving them nice walls that they can look at and be proud of,” he says. “When I paint on building walls and streets, I don’t think I am damaging public properties because my aim is to beautify the city.When the end result is beautiful, how can I be accused of vandalism?” he questions, with a wink.

The secret to winning the hearts of the public, is to let them see for themselves the effort and time that goes onto creating a mural. “Street art is no longer done under the cover of darkness. When I first started out, I was caught by the police twice but funnily enough I was just given a warning as the police officers were impressed by my work. They even said that they would call me if they had any upcoming projects,” says Kenji, laughing at the memory. Now, when he takes his paintings to the streets, the public have nothing but positive feedback. For Kenji, it is effectively word-of-mouth advertising.

Besides sharing his artistic talents, Kenji also relishes the opportunity to spread messages for good causes. His latest project in Pangkor Island, where he did multiple artworks around the island, allowed him to reconnect with people and nature. “I specially designed my artwork to fit the relaxing island environment by using animals such as my signature Doggy Chai and a giant hornbill which received a lot of positive feedback from the locals. They were all so caring, offering me food and drinks while I worked. It was one of the best experiences as an artist and human being,” he says.

“An artist’s artwork is a self-expression and Doggy Chai is a literal expression of me as I was born in the year of the dog. Doggy Chai is a street dog that is looking for acceptance and appreciation. You will see that despite the rough texture of the background wall, Doggy Chai is always vibrant and smiling. This is to inspire everyone that despite life’s difficulties, if we maintain an optimistic outlook, things will always get better. We are not always able to choose or change our environment, but we have total control of ourselves,” says Kenji pensively.

The man who lives and breathes in the art realm, said that street art is a trend that will never fade as everyone needs an outlet to express themselves. “If painting on walls and streets is one’s calling, then it should be pursued through proper channels,” says Kenji, who enjoys the work of Aryz Nachos, one of the most renowned Austrian graffiti artists.

The passion in Kenji to pursue his dream is commendable, especially when his chosen career path is an unconventional one. However, the setbacks have only propelled Kenji to move out from his comfort zone and chase his dreams relentlessly. “Skills can be learned, but a positive attitude and self-motivation cannot be taught,” concluded Kenji.

Source: Senses of Malaysia January/February 2014

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