PICAF
BATU KAWAN INDUSTRIAL PARK (BESIDE VITROX) - BANDAR CASSIA, BATU KAWAN
The artwork shows a little Malay girl playing her old toy blocks, building up her dream structures for her dream city while looking over the existing site at Karpal Singh Drive (a new developed modernised suburb situated within the unique city of George Town which has gone through centuries of development).
Expanding her vision a little further, she sees, with wonders, how George Town capturing both the well-preserved heritage streetscape as well as the new and trendy modernised cityscape at the same time. In her mind, she started to ponder with hope, imagining how her dream future city would looks like.
Hope for the Future
by Julia Volchkova
Julia Volchkova (Nizhnevartovsk, Russia)
Julia’s first creation for street art festival was in Ukraine in 2013. After completing her Diploma in Arts in the year 2010, she began to base in St. Petersburg, working actively on graffiti and street art, focusing on portraits or figurative art. After her first participation in the street art festival in Ukraine in 2013, she started to travel to Asia countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, where she began her exploration and in-depth study of the different cultures in Asia.
As inspired by multiculturalism in Malaysia, she repeatedly visiting cities in Malaysia, to paint large-scale murals on streets to portray different communities of the local people. Her creations in different cities have now captured worldwide attention.
Her mural of “The Loving Sisters” located at Muar, Johor was listed as “The Largest Portrait Mural in Malaysia” in The Malaysia Book of Records in 2016. Today, Julia’s creations are seen in the cities of Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Dubai, Mexico, etc.
Julia Volchkova ( Nizhnevartovsk, Russia)
Julia’s first creation for street art festival was in Ukraine in 2013. After completing her Diploma in Arts in the year 2010, she began to base in St. Petersburg, working actively on graffiti and street art, focusing on portraits or figurative art. After her first participation in the street art festival in Ukraine in 2013, she started to travel to Asia countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, where she began her exploration and in-depth study of the different cultures in Asia.
As inspired by multiculturalism in Malaysia, she repeatedly visiting cities in Malaysia, to paint large-scale murals on streets to portray different communities of the local people. Her creations in different cities have now captured worldwide attention.
Her mural of “The Loving Sisters” located at Muar, Johor was listed as “The Largest Portrait Mural in Malaysia” in The Malaysia Book of Records in 2016. Today, Julia’s creations are seen in the cities of Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Dubai, Mexico, etc.
Julia Volchkova (Nizhnevartovsk, Russia)
Kenji is currently based in Kuala Lumpur where he is headhunted by the biggest brands to work on commissioned wall art. Painting graffiti art and murals in his art style in different cities around the world being his life career which he performs his best.
Kenji was bred on comics, cartoons and storybooks since his early age. He spent rummaging through these worlds of imagination in his art creations. At present, Kenji is famed for his graffiti and murals, blasted with explosive colours and positive vibes that present joyful appearances with mixed of humour and mischief elements. He tags most of his work with the image of “Chaigo”, the turquoise dog which he was inspired by the strays who live on the streets.
His latest mission in his art-making journey is to bring nature to the concrete jungle through his art in the cities. To Kenji, art is a form of meditation where he believes he lives to paint instead of paint to live. Today, Kenji’s creations could be found in cities of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, USA, etc.
Chai Vui Yung (Kenji Chai) (Sandakan,Sabah)
Preserving Cultural Roots
for Sustainability
by Kenji Chai
The subject of this colourful piece of art is to highlight the multiculturalism in Penang. The mural features a girl with a blissful smile on her face, wearing a Batik headband and balancing a basket containing several imageries closely associated with Penang such as a Pinang tree and a dusky leaf monkey.
The mural is a powerful testament to Penang's cultural and natural heritage in producing well-balanced youth. It reflects kids living happily within the neighbourhoods in Penang where they are well nurtured under the vibrant art and cultural scene with easily accessible knowledge and resources about their local identities.
The girl’s pleasant facial expression reflects the inner joy due to the contentment of her mind and soul, filled with the positive content of thoughts that generates the pride towards her beloved city. It is also a dynamic visual display to remind viewers that preserving Penang's cultural and natural heritage is essential to ensure Penang's sustainability.