Melbourne illustrator Kinai Wong draws gory self portraits all week and goes out all weekend. She’s managed to strike the perfect balance between kicking around, doing nothing and sitting down, working really hard. That’s how her time breaks down: 50 percent art practice, 50 percent party.
It’s working out well: Kinai’s drawings are simple and graphic, so they sticks around in your memory. A quintessential illustration might show her chopped up in a bowl of ramen noodles, or have lines of rice substituting coke — subversive nods to her Asian and North-American heritage are everywhere in her work. Alongside her prints you’ll see her drawings stuck on people’s laptops—she makes stickers—and on their coats, she’s just put out some pins with her friend Jerry. Plus she makes zines and takes photos here and there. We don’t think she sleeps much.
Being so active as an artist and a nightlife enthusiast, it feels like she’s everywhere at once—on your Instagram feed, then at a show, then in the club. We figured we’d use one of those run-ins for a chat.
i-D: Where’d you grow up?
I’ve always moved a lot. I was born in Malaysia, but my dad is American-Asian and my mom is Canadian-Asian so when I was a little kid I lived in America sometimes too. When I was fourteen I moved to Melbourne to live with my sister.
Tell us about your year so far.
I was having a crisis in January because I didn’t get into the graphic design course I wanted to, and I was programmed to think that if you don’t go to Uni you’re useless and you’re not going anywhere. Now I’m realising that I’m doing okay. I got over it.
What changed for you?
My friend asked me to hold my first exhibition. I got really excited. It was March 9th, I remember the date because I made a lot of flyers. That was one of the happiest nights of my life. So many people came—I was so happy to see all these people come out for me.
Now it feels like you have a show every month.
Pretty much. It’s tiring though. I usually show mostly archival stuff I’ve already made. I’ve never painted a brand new series for an exhibition.
How far back do your archives go?
A year. I haven’t been doing this long, I just got lucky. I guess people just like chopped up bodies and food!
Lets talk about the bodies…
It just comes naturally—it only happens to look morbid. I like to make the subject matter really dark and weird, but then make the colours cute. I call it “Oriental Gore.” But that will probably change very soon as my work changes.
What do you want to do next? Album art, shirts?
I would love to do album art. I love making stuff for other artists. I don’t think I would ever do t-shirts. I feel like that’s selling yourself out. I like doing art for myself, I rarely even sell prints anymore. I definitely don’t do it to make money, this is just a side-thing.
What’s the main thing if this is a side-thing?
I don’t even have a main thing. I think I’m on a gap year right now. I might be on a gap life right now and I don’t even know it yet.
What about photography? How does that fit in for you?
About two years ago I started taking photos, I would spend hours on it just for fun. I edit them and put them together so they look aesthetically pleasing next to each other but that’s just a hobby.
It feels like you have a tonne of hobbies. Tell me about an average week for you.
Monday is the day I make myself stay home and sort out my life. Tuesdays I like to go to a nice, airy cafe and sit down to figure out every single detail if I have an exhibition or collaboration going on. Otherwise, I’ll start drawing an art piece, just pencil and paper. I’ll scan it into my computer: I like to use really shitty software like MS Paint—Illustrator is unnecessary. I’ll go and see my friends after that. Wednesday and Thursday are pretty much the same. Friday, Saturday and Sunday is just like going out. Half my life is turning up and the other half is art. Those are the only two things that I care about right now.
What’s next?
I’m young and inexperienced so whatever happens, happens.