PETALING JAYA: In the heart of Balik Pulau, Penang, a monumental mural tells the story of a life now passed. The central figure in this artwork, an elderly fisherman named Yeoh Choon Seng, bid the world farewell on Jan 17, at age 78.
The 7m-by-13m mural was painted nine years ago by Russian street artist Julia Woolf Volchkova.
Although Yeoh lived a humble life as a fisherman for decades, many of those from near and far who visited Balik Pulau left with pictures of this elderly man.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Volchokova said she has fond memories of Yeoh. “When I saw Mr Yeoh at the fishing village, there was something special about him that immediately caught my attention.”
This globally renowned artist was in Malaysia in 2014, exploring the streets with a camera in hand, feeling immensely inspired by the country’s multiculturalism. It was during this time that she painted her first mural, that of an Indian woman in Penang.
“The response from Malaysians for this painting was crazy. I didn’t expect to receive all that love.”
While this particular mural stemmed from her own efforts, following its popularity, then deputy minister of tourism, arts and culture Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik invited Volchkova to paint four murals in Balik Pulau.
“This is how I met Mr Yeoh. He was my first mural in Balik Pulau,” she shared. Little did she know that the man she immortalised would become an indelible part of her artistic journey.
After fixating on the wall of a pre-war shophouse, it was while exploring a fishing village that she encountered Yeoh.
“I was very lucky to meet this uncle. He was mending the fishing net by hand, and was so focused on his work that he didn’t react to me at all. I took many photos of him and instantly, I knew he would fit the wall perfectly,” she said.
Volchkova was so taken up with the idea of Yeoh for her mural that she got down to work immediately.
“I prepared my sketch of Mr Yeoh but the team wanted a few more ideas.
“They brought me to a few other villages, and I met many more locals. But I never felt the same as I did when seeing Mr Yeoh. I just knew that I had to do the mural with him.”
And what was it about Yeoh that fascinated her?
“In today’s day and age, it’s difficult to find someone like him – untouched from the modern world,” she said.
Speaking about the 10-day process of painting the mural, she shared: “It was very hot, and I remember that everyone in the area came to watch.”
Volchkova vividly remembered the heartwarming moment when Yeoh’s family saw the mural for the first time. “When they recognised him, they were so excited, saying, ‘This is my father, this is my father!’”
The artist even recalled seeing a similar sense of pride felt by the famous fisherman himself. “He (Yeoh) was sitting very proudly on a chair in front of the painting. So many people came to him to take pictures and he happily obliged.”
The mural not only turned Yeoh into a local celebrity, but also opened new doors for Volchkova’s career. “After this, I received offers for so many projects to paint murals across various cities like Muar, Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang.”
Speaking about the recent news of Yeoh’s passing, Volchokova said: “I was just so sad. It made me pause and think about how time is passing by so quickly.”
On her artistic journey, she stated: “My purpose was to highlight the simple people of Malaysia. The ordinary man or woman we see selling food or flowers on the street, or like Mr Yeoh, a fisherman.
“I know he will continue to live in people’s hearts.” - FMT
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