Originally from the city of Sandakan in North Borneo, street artist Kenji Chai is known for his vibrant and bold graffiti and murals that reflect humour and mischief with sprinkles of positivity. Chai was invited to TIMEPieces by Red Hong Yi.
Artist Statement
Title: Welcome to Chaigo Land
This artwork reflects the hope I have for a post-pandemic world. While humans have had to retreat indoors and lives have been lost, wildlife has roamed more freely and nature has been given a reset button. It is my hope that this experience will lead us to reflect and care about nature more. Chaigo, the blue dog in the artwork, is an alter-ego of mine. Chaigo is a stray dog who has had to defend himself to stay alive, but he is an eternal optimist who will use his artistic gifts to bring hope to everyone.
About the Artist
Growing up, Kenji Chai was hugely influenced by Marvel comics, Street Fighter and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and these influences continue to affect his imagination, as is evident in his art. He tags most of his work with a character called “Chaigo”, his alter-ego of a dog inspired by strays that live on streets. He taps into their instincts to hustle, survive and thrive. His latest mission is to bring images of nature into cities to build awareness of wildlife extinction. He advocates a positive mindset and sees art as a form of meditation. He lives with the motto, “I live to paint, not paint to live”. His list of clients includes Netflix, Uniqlo, Puma, BMW, Vans and Swatch, and his work has been spotted in cities around the globe including New York, Miami, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, India, Ulaanbaatar, and Kazakhstan. Chai is currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
View on OpenSea here.
- How Donald Trump Won
- The Best Inventions of 2024
- Why Sleep Is the Key to Living Longer
- Robert Zemeckis Just Wants to Move You
- How to Break 8 Toxic Communication Habits
- Nicola Coughlan Bet on Herself—And Won
- Why Vinegar Is So Good for You
- Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders
