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New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Jun Hao becomes brushstroke hero in young artist's charity drive
KUALA LUMPUR: National shuttler Leong Jun Hao's explosive court presence has been immortalised in art — all in the name of charity — thanks to a young and talented artist, Yap Ze Hern. The 14-year-old has created a striking artwork capturing Jun Hao's on-court intensity, which now features on T-shirts and other merchandise. All proceeds from the sales will go to Yayasan Chow Kit, a non-profit organisation supporting underprivileged children in the area. The collaborative artworks are part of Ze Hern's exhibition at GMBB Mall, running from May 10-12. World No. 26 Jun Hao, who attended a meet-and-greet session during the launch on Friday, said he was intrigued by the idea of combining sports and art for a good cause. "It's definitely something different. It's the first time I've worked with an artist, and I'm glad it's for a charitable cause," said Jun Hao. "Hopefully, there'll be more opportunities like this in the future where I can give back to society. "The art is pretty impressive — he clearly has talent. I've never really thought about art much, but when this opportunity came, I felt I should give it a shot, and it turned out to be a great project." Jun Hao revealed that Ze Hern first reached out to him via social media, and the two later met to develop the idea. "I get a lot of messages from fans, and Ze Hern was one of them. He and his family even came to support me during the Malaysia Open. That's when he brought up the idea. We had a few meetings to plan it out. "He's young but clearly talented. We thought a painting of me playing badminton could work, and later we decided it should be for charity. In the end, it became this exhibition. I'm really happy with how it turned out." "I'm not exactly artistic myself — just did a bit of doodling in school — but maybe after this, I'll try my hand at it again in my spare time." Meanwhile, Ze Hern was beaming with pride and relief after a successful launch, and thanked everyone who had supported him. "Half the work is done, so I feel really relieved and happy now. So many people came to support the event," said Ze Hern. "I'm extremely grateful and excited to have worked with someone at Jun Hao's level. I hope to collaborate with more athletes in the future. I believe we can benefit from each other. "It's really a surprise to be in this position at my age. I'm very thankful for everyone who made this possible, especially my family and my teachers who taught me how to draw."
The Star
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
KL fair illustrates life and love of art
The third edition of KLIF features 10,000 artworks from 180 Malaysian and regional artists, with three floors dedicated to displays, booths and interactive experiences. TO bring the craft of illustrators to a wider public, Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair (KLIF) 2025 turned a mall into a multi-level, interactive art community. The four-day event displayed over 10,000 artworks by 180 artists from Malaysia and the region, and took over three floors of GMBB Mall in Bukit Bintang. For Petaling Jaya illustrator Eugene Foo, 43, the event presented opportunities to reach out to a large number of visitors. At his 'Saya Seekor Dinosaur' booth, he told StarMetro that his artwork was not aimed solely at children but was meant to resonate across generations. The main animated characters he created are Kenit and Hua Hua, two dinosaurs cared for by nine schoolchildren. In its third year, KLIF transformed the mall into a vibrant three‑floor showcase of local and regional talent.— YAP CHEE HONG/The Star 'As these children grow, they lose the ability to converse with the dinosaurs in my world of 'Saya Seekor Dinosaur'. 'Children adore the illustrations whereas adults appreciate the messages and backstories which they can relate to,' said Foo. According to event co-organiser Creators Project Associates, the third edition of KLIF attracted the public as well as commercial and advertising agencies. Its co‑founder Jang Chau Chie said, 'Brands usually collaborate with foreign artists and illustrators. 'This event shone a light on local talent and built bridges to prospective collaborators.' He said that this year, illustrators were provided with small booths as well as shoplots. 'We also have artists from Taiwan, Japan, China and other countries in South-East Asia,' he said, adding that the artists were in their 20s to 50s. Jang said 18,000 visitors explored the artists' booths and art galleries over the four days. At Taipei Corner, Hello Studio creative director Chen Yi Hsin said meeting local fans in person was exciting because this was her first time in Malaysia. 'Being here and seeing my fans allowed me to observe their habits and choices. 'Our fox character, Huichi, has truly made an impression on Malaysian audiences. 'We also have virtual reality at our booth to let our visitors experience life as it is in the book of Huichi. 'This includes scenery that I have illustrated,' she added. Nur Khairunnisha Fatini Mohd Khairuddin, 25, said this was her first visit to the fair. 'I had wanted to explore how illustrators in Malaysia expand their business and what inspires them to create these artworks. 'The artists are very inspirational because they create art with just pen and paper. 'The fair had a good vibe and I was amazed with the artists' talents,' she said, adding that she would visit KLIF again for new experiences and to see upcoming art.
