By CHIN JIAN WEI
The Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair (KLIF) returns for its 2024 instalment, held in GMBB over the weekend of 3rd to 5th May 2024. There were even more illustrators this year than the last, with three full floors dedicated to the exhibitors, one more than last year’s two. Naturally, this meant that this year had even more amazing artists, and narrowing it down to a short list was very difficult. Nevertheless, the work of the artists below ooze style and personality, and we hope to see more their work in the years to come!
D’Peculiar
D’Peculiar, run by Joey Wong, has a truly unique style. Her paintings and needle-felt sculptures feel very… fleshy. Eyes, teeth and limbs bedeck her booth at the illustration fair, the creepy imagery tempered by a colourful, almost whimsical colour palette. There is a certain level of body horror and surreal imagery present in her works, somewhat reminiscent of Junji Ito mixed with Alice in Wonderland.
How did you start as an artist?
I was a fine art graduate, and after I graduated I worked in a stationery shop as a shop assistant. During that time, I was thinking of creating my own brand and style. I kept drawing and drawing while thinking of what name I would use. In 2017 or 2018, the name D’Peculiar came to me.
How would you describe your style?
My style is surrealism. A bit creepy but a bit cute as well. Not so scary.
What inspires you artistically?
I always loved drawing when I was a kid, and I also loved weird stuff. I used to watch a lot of horror movies when I was a kid. I think my favourite is Alien. The one that had the chestburster popping out from the body.
What was it like being at KLIF?
When I was shortlisted, I was quite happy; it was quite unexpected. It was great exposure for me, I met a lot of artists from different countries and also art collectors. I really loved one artist from Indonesia called Ardneks. Some of the artists also really loved my work and said it was mindblowing. I received quite a lot of invitations for cooperation and for gallery exhibitions as well.
Is there a message you want to convey with your art?
I like it when people have their own interpretation. Different people will get different meanings from my art. So I don’t really attach a meaning (laughs). Sometimes I just draw based on my mood.
Follow D’Peculiar’s Instagram page here!
SukkaProject
SukkaProject, run by Ichie Imran, features striking art mainly depicting a couple of instantly iconic characters- a mischievous-looking young boy and a colourful, striped big cat with a fierce expression. Her style reminds us of Western cartoons like those seen on Nickelodeon in the early 2000s, shonen manga, and just a hint of graffiti art, while still managing to remain distinct and uniquely her own.
How did you start as an artist?
I was an art student, so I used to casually draw on books and papers. After graduating, I started Sukka. I became a full time artist in 2019.
How would you describe your style?
Bold, fun, and playful. I mainly use bold colours because I have a short attention span, so colours help me a lot. I also try to add some straightforward humour in my art as well.
What inspires you artistically?
My surroundings. My childhood memories. I watched a lot of TV shows growing up, and a lot of comics and manga like Dr Slump and Shin Chan. As you can see, my characters are mainly a boy and a cat that looks like a tiger. That cat is inspired by my cat. The boy and the cat are kind of best friends; the boy loves the cat so much but the cat hates him. My cat also always wants to kill me for some reason (laughs).
What was it like being at KLIF?
Honestly, I was really nervous, because I was showcasing my artwork alongside other talented artists, both local and from overseas. It was nerve-wracking, but at the same time very fun for me to showcase my artwork and hear their feedbacks, knowing they’re really into art and also appreciate my art. It makes the sleepless night getting ready for KLIF worth it. There were so many talented artists and so many new ones that I had never seen before. It was like, wow, to see all their art styles and colours and everything, it was so fun!
Is there a message you want to convey with your art?
Life is too short. Let loose and have some fun, do whatever you want to do. See things from different perspectives.
Follow SukkaProject’s Instagram page here!
EmoTrash & Etc.
Run by Nathelie Yong, she creates art by putting her own spin on merchandise of music and bands, referencing pop punk and emo music of the early 2000s. Seeing her art at KLIF was a real nostalgia trip, her incredibly expressive art evoking teenage memories of countless evenings spent listening to emo rock music. As of this year, Nat carries her self-illustrated merch in the form of T-shirts, pins, charms and more to her pop-ups, and is known to have a uniquely decorated set-up to go with it, as evidenced by her eye-catching booth at KLIF. Other than KLIF, her work is seen in anime events, gigs and music festivals.
How did you start as an artist?
I started drawing when I was very young and eventually took on an illustration diploma. After that, I illustrated for a branding and marketing company until the pandemic hit. This led to what I do today, which is a culmination of what got me through tough times, and exploring what I’ve always wanted to do since my teenage years!
How would you describe your style?
I would say my style is chaotic with a dash of whimsy. As DIY is an important aspect in the punk scene, my art style is heavily inspired by it in terms of composition and finishing. It is self-expressive and all over the place.
What inspires you artistically?
Album art and Music Videos! And also the people behind them. Like what illustrations do for words in books, I find it fascinating to see how strong visual storytelling can help to set the tone of a certain song or an entire album, be it in the lyric booklets of a CD or the storyboards of a music video.
What was it like being at KLIF?
KLIF was SO hectic, but in a good way! It is so different from the other events I have done, as I could max out the potential of my set-up space, as well as connect with a much wider range of people who appreciate illustrations! I also loved connecting with faces old and new, and refreshing my visual library by seeing so many cool illustrators in action there.
Is there a message you want to convey with your art?
When you feel strongly towards your artwork, it really doesn’t matter what people say. I used to think technicality is all there is to creating great artwork, but in the chase for that, a lot of soul was lost in the process. Do what is true to you and things will start to fall into place.
Follow Emo Trash & Etc.’s Instagram page here!
Stay tuned for Part Two of this article, where we introduce even more artists that caught our eye at KLIF 2024!
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