Street artist apologises for unsanctioned drawings

One of Kong’s drawings that led to public complaints.

POPULAR street artist Aries Kong got into hot water after drawing in several public spots in Sibu, Sarawak, without permission.

Kong, known for his artworks here and in Australia, had drawn graffiti and painted on electrical boxes and walls in Sibu’s streets and alleys, leading to public complaints.

A contrite Kong, 31, explained that his drawings, which he named “Chicksmore”, were intended to cover up the obscenities that other people had scrawled on the walls.

“I express my deepest apologies to the Sibu Municipal Council chairman, Sibu Municipal Council, TM Group and Safoca,” he said in social media post.

(Safoca Sdn Bhd is a telecommunications infrastructure provider in Sarawak.)

Kong, who is also known by his nickname Jagung, admitted that he did not have permission to draw on those spaces and said he was prepared to accept any penalty.

He also explained that his “Chicksmore” drawings were inspired by the chocolate chip cookies that he bought.

“Every chick you see in my mural painting is cute.

“Some are fat, some are big, some are not completed yet as I was doing them in the middle of the night,” he said.

Kong has previously done several impressive murals, including a 2D model on the back of a building in Jalan Ramin in Sibu last month.

In 2018, Kong and his team produced the largest mural in the state – measuring 35.5m long by 18.2m tall – at the open carpark of Wisma Vasty along Island Road.

In his social media post, he spoke about the difficulties since he became a street artist six years ago.

The problems include “a lack of platforms and funds, low social tolerance for composition/theme, low level of freedom and of course, a lack of education,” he said.

However, Kong said he had worked hard to be on par with international artists.

At press time, Sibu Municipal Council has yet to comment on the matter.