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