One does not need to travel beyond the borders of their home country to create the best and most beautiful moments and memories. As an artist, YONGL illustrates the beauty of Malaysia via photography and digital artistry; and with his artwork, YONGL strives to demonstrate the beauty that we have in our own backyards which we may draw creative inspiration from and use as a canvas to create a masterpiece.

Malaysia boasts a diverse range of landscapes from cities to villages and from forests to coastlines. In this photo series, YONGL travels to his friend’s hometown in the quaint kampung of Sungai Besar, Selangor to capture its amazing, aesthetic landscapes through the lens of his camera.

While standing under the blanket of the starry night sky, YONGL was inspired to imagine an eye in the sky dripping a galactic stream of blue light that illuminates the kampung’s natural landscape in the dark. A fisherman and his fur friend look up to the heavens for inspiration from this marvellous phenomenon.

In the daytime, the humble town of Sungai Besar offers a unique local delicacy — shark meat porridge that can be enjoyed by both humans and their friendly, furry companies. One cannot truly experience Sungai Besar without tasting this signature dish. YONGL tells us that every place in Malaysia has a specialty unique to its local region that is waiting to be explored and appreciated by visitors looking to experience a different culture and cuisine as well as creatives looking for a muse near home.

With this photo series, YONGL intends to encourage creatives in Malaysia to explore the beauty that is in their own backyard. Within a single country, Malaysia offers a plethora of landscapes, cultures, foods and experiences to offer creatives who are looking for a time-efficient and cost-efficient journey into photography while staying close to home. Photographing the beautiful landscapes within our own country helps us document the natural beauty that surrounds us in the place that we call home and, in turn, inspires others to appreciate the various wonders of the world in their own special ways.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

Mountains are essential formations on the face of Mother Earth that play an important role in our planet’s ecosystem — but what happens when they begin to disappear from our natural landscapes? In this photo series, YONGL visits the disappearing mountain of Ipoh and documents the human impact on the natural environment of this city in Northwestern Malaysia.

A few months ago, a viral photograph of a heavily logged mountain in Simpang Pulai, Ipoh made its rounds on social media platforms and eventually landed on YONGL’s Facebook feed. After bearing witness to the amount of damage this mountain had sustained due to quarrying activities in the area, YONGL decided to pay a visit to the site in person. What followed was a journey to Ipoh where YONGL would photograph the disappearing mountain and reimagine what the natural formation would look like without human intervention.

With the use of tools that humans use on a daily basis to “remove” parts of a whole, YONGL tells a pictorial story about how human hands have ‘consumed’ the mountain of Simpang Pulai until it is stripped bare.

Human beings have cut it into pieces,

scooped it up,

and shaved it until it no longer has its cloak of green covering it as natural protection.

The mountain of Simpang Pulai now stands as a shell of its former self with its insides exposed to external elements that increase the risk of erosion. The bare mountain also poses a threat to the citizens of Ipoh; apart from being an eyesore that contrasts the greenery of the beautiful natural landscape, the deforestation in the area has caused temperatures to increase in the locality which has resulted in unfavourable weather conditions. As the limestone quarrying industry is one of the biggest contributors to Perak’s economy, the locals are concerned that such quarrying activities will spread to the other mountains in the surroundings and eventually result in a complete deforestation of the area.

In order to drive his point home, YONGL reimagined what the mountains would look like in the present day if they had not been subjected to any mining and quarrying activities. The results are a shocking, striking contrast of an evergreen tree-covered mountain camouflaged within its green landscape in opposition to a naked rock formation that has been stripped bare to reveal the limestone within that loudly contradicts the green in its surroundings.

While YONGL may not be a journalist or environmental activist, he still advocates for the preservation of Malaysia’s beautiful natural landscapes with the tools he has at his disposal as a photographer and digital artist. Through this photo series, YONGL intends to raise awareness of the need for environmental protection and preservation and calls for the invention of solutions that enables us to sustain our environment while enabling economic growth.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

The Saloma Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that spans across the Klang River to connect Kampung Baru to Kuala Lumpur City Centre. In the eyes of an artist, the Saloma Bridge creates a connection between the old and the new of Kuala Lumpur; it portrays the efforts to develop while preserving the foundation upon which it was built. In celebration of Sambutan Hari Wilayah Persekutuan 2021, YONGL tells a story of the Saloma Bridge with various Malaysian elements to accentuate not just what it is, but also what it symbolises for Malaysia.

The Saloma Bridge bridges the gap between the modern city of Kuala Lumpur and the traditional village of Kampung Baru. Surrounding the quaint and humble Malaysian houses are contemporary buildings rising tall amidst the Kuala Lumpur skyline. YONGL encompasses the old and the new by presenting us with the big picture using aerial photographs captured by drone and mobile phone.

In with the new but not out with the old; YONGL highlights that in an attempt to preserve heritage, modern influences are built around traditional establishments — but YONGL also raises the question of whether this is an intrusion of modernity in traditional environments.

YONGL gets close and intimate with the Saloma Bridge to capture the beautiful views of the bridge’s architecture and the metropolitan landscape that pedestrians see when they are standing within it. 

The hook, line and sinker of construction and development have reeled in the Saloma Bridge as YONGL has reimagined it; but there is light at the end of the tunnel and there is hope in every situation. 

YONGL reimagines the Saloma Bridge and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre to be submerged in a futuristic underwater metropolis as in 2100. What’s new in the present will become the old in the future, YONGL tells us to embrace all possibilities that the future holds for us.

In this photo series, YONGL captures the present while remembering the past. There was a time when the Saloma Bridge did not exist and neither did a connection between the old and the new in the city Kuala Lumpur; but with a little bit of construction and a lot of effort, this nation has managed to preserve a balance between the two. YONGL reminds us that it is important to remember the past while we celebrate the present and look towards the future.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

As we grow up, we may be overwhelmed by the insurmountable responsibilities and struggles of life​; even to the point where we may feel that we have lost sanity in all sense of our aspirations and future prospects. In this artwork series, YONGL represents us as wanderers or ‘city drifters' in a metropolis bombarded by a turbulence of lights — with a darkness in disguise. As a recurring symbol in many of YONGL’s artworks, the moon represents a universal theme of hope in this series; and also serves a reminder that in a big, fast-paced, bustling metropolis, this small sprinkle of light is needed to keep us moving forward.

Inspired by YONGL’s own journey of venturing out of his hometown and into the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur to pursue his studies and further his career, YONGL illustrates the emotional rollercoaster that young talents undergo when leaving the comfort of their homes and the familiarity of the environments they grew up in to find their place in this world.

“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere; and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself”. YONGL portrays the journey of trying and failing — and of trying again. He reminds us that it is okay to fail because failure is part of the process of succeeding. In the face of our failures and in the midst of the darkness, the moon shines its light to remind us that there is hope so long that we keep trying without giving up.

YONGL reminds us that we should pursue our passions regardless of social perceptions. It is better to find happiness in failure than to find misery in success; failure is not permanent, it is only a stepping stone towards success.

There are times when we may feel lost but we must not dwell in a state of hopelessness. YONGL tells us that we should rest to recuperate, but we must not give into helplessness by refusing to help ourselves and our situations when times are tough. Rather, we must continue with our journey of trying until we have achieved the goals we set out to accomplish.

Oftentimes, we experience societal pressure to pursue career paths that can guarantee a successful future. YONGL reminds us that there is hope in every line of work that we wish to pursue; do what you love for a living so that you need not work a day in your life — but also remember that struggle is a part of success.

YONGL created this series to inspire young talents in Malaysia to pursue their dreams despite the long and difficult path they must take; even if it is the road less travelled by. “Every successful person has a painful story and every painful story has a successful end”. YONGL had undergone this journey himself when he was a beginner in the world of creative arts and he hopes that his journey will inspire others to strive until they can fulfil their definition of success.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

Oftentimes, we complain to ourselves about the disadvantages of our background and the deficiencies of our upbringing due to where we were born, who we are and what we look like. In this series that encourages individuals to persist and rise, YONGL tells us that we should try to teach ourselves to be accepting of our fate while conforming to the best of our ability in order to break free from the invisible cage that traps our mind. YONGL conveys that an easy life softens you and a difficult life hardens you. Just like the plant that is being watered and nurtured in this series, we grow towards wherever the sunlight is — and we must not forget the ones who keep watering us. 

Malaysians have faced many hardships in the past few years from the COVID-19 pandemic, countless MCOs, economic depression and so on. In trying times like these, we have the tendency to feel hopeless and lost about where we are and where we want to go in life. YONGL created this photo series of luscious greenery growing in various modes of transport because regardless of where we are, we’re always going somewhere.

YONGL illustrates scenarios in which plants and trees grow in places deemed impossible due to the lack of sunlight, water, nutrients, and soil upon which nobody treads on. YONGL tells us that much like these plants, we ourselves can grow and develop as individuals — even in the most unlikely and impossible conditions — if we were to accept our fate, adapt to our new environment, and find the things within it that can help us make the most of our situation and become the best versions of ourselves.

We all live in a shared world. Through his creative reimaging, YONGL advises us to nurture each other and society as well as we would with our own selves. Giving more to others does not mean having less for ourselves. YONGL motivates us to help nourish society so that we all may collectively create a better world to live in, and ensure that the future generations have greener pastures to build their lives upon.

With this photo series, YONGL encourages creatives to be resilient; to be persistent in pursuing their goals and ambitions, and to nurture their talent until they are able to rise to where they want to be. Every creative journey begins with the first step, and then many baby steps, before one can walk and then run. Planting a seed means that you believe in a tomorrow for it to grow into a plant. YONGL inspires creatives to keep nurturing their green shoots until they blossom into flowers for the world to see and appreciate.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

INSPIRATION can be found anywhere, even in times of struggle, at times when we despair. It only takes a shift in perspective to turn adversities into opportunities.

In this YONGL Revisits blog post, we interviewed YONGL to find out about his experience going from feeling lost at the start of his career to winning the Adobe Awards and being sponsored for a 3 days 2 nights trip to Los Angeles, California

Tell us more about winning the Adobe Design Achievement Awards

I came across it on social media and decided to participate. “What do I have to lose?” I thought to myself. At that time, it’s been 2 years since I graduated college and started my business. I was still lost in finding my way to make a living in Cyberjaya. I turned loneliness into creative energy and ended up producing a series of artworks I’m really proud of - the Concrete Jungle, a reimagined story of my life in the city.

I submitted the Concrete Jungle series and heard back from the Adobe team a few months later that I won the awards and they wanted to fly me out to Los Angeles, California for the awards ceremony. When I received the news, I was thrilled, since I didn’t expect to win the contest and had never been to the States before.

How was the trip from Malaysia to the US?

I faced a challenge before I even went on the trip -  I had 30 days to get a US visa. The schedule was so tight and not passing the interview would mean that this once-in-a-lifetime experience would be forfeited. 

Luckily the interview went well and, a few weeks later I landed at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after a transit in Tokyo.

What was it like being in LA for the first time?

When I arrived in LA, it felt as if I entered a Hollywood film. People chattered in English.  The Uber driver was blasting pop music on our way to the hotel. Everything was different. It was bizarre.

On the first day, I tagged along with the Adobe team to places to eat. We had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and chicken chops and fries for lunch. I just wasn’t used to it, I missed Malaysian food already. I guess that’s how a lot of Malaysians feel when they go overseas. 

So, the next day I decided to go to Chinatown to look for something familiar. I happened to find a shop that sold Gu Lou Yok (Sour Pork). The owner of the shop muttered something in Cantonese as he added more rice to my bowl and served me a big bowl of soup. The first bite almost made me shed a tear, it reminded me of home.

I also spent some time at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), since there were some workshops going on. I was incredibly jet lagged but the workshops opened my mind and equipped me with the knowledge and mindset to keep my business alive when the pandemic hit.

To my surprise, Chris Do, the founder of Futur was one of the presenters at the convention. I got to take a picture with him but unfortunately, the picture the photographer took with my phone was blurry. When I wanted to ask for another picture, Chris was nowhere to be seen.

Did you get to visit Adobe Office? How was the experience?

Yes, I was asked to film a tutorial in the studio surrounded by almost 20 Adobe team members. I had butterflies in my stomach but I was really proud of this moment because I cherished this opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and share my passion with like-minded people.

Check out the tutorial on Facebook.

For media inquiries, please reach out to our PR representative at yinze@yongl.my

WHAT would you do to show the world your work? At the age of 18, YONGL submitted his work in hopes of winning the Sony World Photography Awards. The first year, he got shortlisted but didn't win. The second year, the same thing. After submitting his work for the third time in 2015, he achieved the impossible, winning the awards and getting flown out to London for the awards ceremony.

Read on to find out more about YONGL's once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tell us about how you won the awards

I came across the Sony World Photography Awards on social media in 2012, 3 years before I won it. My previous two submissions were shortlisted but I did not win. Because I desperately wanted the prize - their latest camera model at that time, Sony A7 Mark 2 - I decided to give it another try in the third year and I got first place. The third time is indeed a charm! 

What was your first reaction when you found out you were the champion of the Sony Awards?

I received a call from an unknown number from London telling me I won the awards and Sony would love to fly me out to London to receive it. Immediately I thought it was a scam. But, wanting to believe that the good news was true, I asked the caller to send me an email to verify and upon receiving the email, I realized it was legit.

When I told my parents, they too thought it was a scam and didn’t approve of me traveling overseas since I’d never been out of the country before and London was so far away from home. Good thing I managed to convince them to let me go.

How was the experience of traveling to London for the first time in your life?

It was surreal. Lots of first times. First time traveling overseas to a place where I knew no one. First time giving a speech. First time setting foot in the airport. I didn’t even know the check-in procedures so I had to seek advice from some friends of mine who've traveled before.

Here’s the funny thing: since it was my first time traveling overseas, my passport was blank. When I arrived in London, it gave the customs officer quite a shock. He must have never seen a blank passport before 😂. He had some suspicions so he asked me what brought me to London. I showed him the invitation to the Sony Awards ceremony and his frown turned into a smile. He congratulated me and said, “you can go”.

Guess how much I brought with me on the trip? 200 pounds (RM1,000). Lucky for me, the entire trip was sponsored so I didn’t have to bring much.

Did this experience change you? If yes, how?

This trip humbled me a lot. It reminded me that the world is just too big.

What advice would you give young creatives who dream of showing their work to the world?

There are plenty of opportunities out there, just too many. You might not succeed and achieve the outcome you desire on the first few tries but you shouldn’t let it discourage you. Instead, acknowledge failure as the way forward. If you don’t take risks and let yourself fail, you’ll never succeed in life.

For media inquiries, please reach out to our PR representative at yinze@yongl.my

The 31st of August and the 16th of September are two very special dates to every Malaysian. On the first date, we celebrate Malaysia’s Independence Day or ‘Hari Merdeka’ with 2022 marking the 65th anniversary of Malaysia’s independence. On the second date, we celebrate the establishment of the Malayan Federation in 1963 and the unity in diversity of Malaysia. This span of 17 days incites a strong feeling of patriotism in all Malaysians, and YONGL is no exception. In this creative challenge that pays tribute to the beloved nation of Malaysia that he calls home, YONGL has depicted how the spirit of Malaysia can be found everywhere throughout the country. The Malaysian flag need not be presented in nylon, polyester or cotton — it can be anywhere in any shape or form.

In this series, YONGL illustrates the Malaysian flag in various everyday places alongside various national elements. The national animal of Malaysia, the Malayan tiger, roams underneath the red-and-white striped roof beams under the light of the crescent moon and the bright, shining star.

The renowned Petronas Twin Towers stand tall amidst the backdrop of the night sky brightened by the crescent moon; a Malaysian sits atop a red-and-white striped fence and reels the shining star up as he fishes for hope. YONGL tells us that hope can be found anywhere in this nation if we have the determination to seek it.

On Hari Merdeka, the Petronas Twin Towers lights up with the colours of the Malaysian flag; a Malaysian symbol bearing a symbol of patriotism on itself. Underneath the glow of the shining star that illuminates the sky on this ceremonial event, YONGL depicts a crescent moon that bridges a connection between the Twin Towers upon which Tunku Abdul Rahman stands and raises his hand as he shouts “Merdeka!” for the first time. A Malayan tiger stands behind him to symbolise the bravery and strength of the Malaysian people.

YONGL illustrates the national flower of Malaysia, the hibiscus or ‘bunga raya’, sprouting out of the KL Tower that reflects the colours of the Malaysian flag, and bursting fireworks out of its stigma in celebration of the festive events.

YONGL is thankful to his country for providing him with all the opportunities that it did as well as the beautiful nature, urban design, people, and culture that has allowed him to embark on his photography journey and pursue it to date. Standing atop the old Proton that sparked his creativity, YONGL expresses his gratitude to the nation of Malaysia for all it has done for him.

With his camera lens, YONGL captures the essence of Malaysia everywhere he goes. He encourages us to look beyond what we see on a superficial level and appreciate what our beloved nation has to offer for us.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

Malaysia Day is observed on the 16th of September to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation in 1963. On this special occasion that celebrates the unity in diversity of Malaysia, YONGL collaborates with OPPO to celebrate the Malaysian instruments that unite us all regardless of our race, language or religion. In this series, YONGL takes creative reimagination to the next level by not just commemorating Malaysia, but also OPPO by spelling out the brand name using our favourite Malaysian food, icon, sport, and flower.

An ‘O’ is constructed using a round plate of Malaysia’s national dish atop one of Malaysia’s busiest roundabouts in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Nasi Lemak is an iconic Malaysian breakfast that is integral to the lifestyle of most, if not all, Malaysians and it is one that is eaten and enjoyed by people of different races who have different traditional foods.

A ‘P’ is constructed using a crescent moon, as featured on the Malaysian flag, curving along the KL Tower, one of Malaysia’s most infamous skyscrapers. In the background, we see some of Malaysia’s most iconic skyscrapers standing tall amidst the KL skyline; the Petronas Twin Towers, Tun Razak Exchange, and Merdeka PNB 118.

A second ‘P’ is created with one of Malaysia’s favourite sports played in most childhoods and represented proudly in the Olympics — badminton. Standing in the famed Bukit Jalil National Stadium, the player and the curved motion of the badminton racquet form the letter. Of course, one cannot have the full Malaysian experience of playing a game unless interrupted by a pesky stray cat looking to join in the fun!

A second ‘O’ is represented by Malaysia’s national flower, the hibiscus or better known as ‘bunga raya’, the celebratory flower. Standing amidst the Independence Square, a Malay, a Chinese, and an Indian (and a cat!) are nurturing the growth of the national flower to symbolise the unity in diversity of Malaysia as well as the collective effort of people from different diverse backgrounds that help build and sustain the harmonious nation that Malaysia is today.

Via his photography and graphic design, YONGL reinforces the idea that the grass is not always greener on the other side — sometimes, the greenest grass may be growing on the soil you’re standing upon. YONGL captures the hidden gems of Malaysia with his creative lens to commemorate the beauty of our nation, its people and their culture. Malaysia is YONGL’s source of inspiration and his intention is to tell its story through photography so that it may inspire others like it inspired him.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

Whatever your opinion on this controversial fruit is, we cannot deny the fact that the durian is a national treasure of Malaysia. That is why many Malaysian brands love experimenting fusions of durian with other beloved foods and Nestlé Malaysia is no exception to the rule with its innovative Nestlé Musang King Ice Cream! Once YONGL taste this ice cream, he knew that he had to visually depict the unique flavour combination against the backdrop of the Malaysian landscape that this ice cream is meant to celebrate. Thus, this symbolic visual was born.

In this image, we see the Nestlé Musang King Ice Cream perched atop a red-and-white striped stick standing tall as the biggest and tallest skyscraper in the KL skyline. Casting a shadow upon the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, Tun Razak Exchange, and Merdeka PNB 118, this ice cream skyscraper symbolises the unique power of the durian as a “strong” smelling and tasting fruit that is loved and embraced by many Malaysians and is considered as an integral part of the Malaysian culture and identity.

Reflecting a light on this skyscraper is a durian moon; a sliced durian with a thorny green exterior and a rich, custardy yellow interior. This moon shares the sky with a 14-striped star to mirror the one that is featured on the Malaysian flag. Of course, this image would not be complete without a real-life image of the Nestlé Musang King Ice Cream; both to highlight the centerpiece of this image and to advertise this Malaysian masterpiece of an ice cream by a Malaysian-favourite brand to encourage other Malaysians to go tickle their taste buds with this sweet durian treat!

YONGL's intention is to capture and create the tidbits of Malaysian life that build our identities as Malaysians and feature them against a backdrop of surreal Malaysian landscapes. YONGL tells us that it is these small things that make us who we are and thus, we must celebrate these small things in our own special way. 

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

Is there anything in this world that is more important than freedom? To YONGL, that something would be riding on a two‑wheel automobile; journeying through places unburdened by thoughts. YONGL’s love for motorcycles was revved up in his high school days by an old underbone bike that allowed for his freedom to be expressed. This honorary series uses a combination of artistic endeavours and multiple free‑roaming experiences to treasure YONGL’s obsession with diverse types of bikes.

Started from the bottom, and now we’re here. Using illustrations, YONGL tells us that we must take pride in where we started, for that’s where we lay the foundation of our success stories. It was the underbone bike which gave YONGL the freedom to express himself that inspired him far enough until he was able to ride a Cardinals Racing bike. Our successful selves are reflections of our past selves that worked hard to achieve the dreams and ambitions that led us to where we are now. 

With great freedom comes great responsibility. YONGL depicts the harsh conditions that one must battle, even when equipped with the freedom to do whatever one wants to in this world. Brace yourself to reach your destination safely, and to preserve the thing that gets you there.

YONGL illustrates how he feels when he is riding on his bike — as offensive as the wolf, as defensive as the cat, and as steady as the cardinal. A joy as simple as riding a bike can make one feel very powerful in his element. We all have our own prized possessions that give us this sense of freedom and power — what’s yours?

The freedom to do whatever you want can be interpreted in two ways; the first gives you power to live your life the way you want to and the second gives you the convenience of living life the way you want to. Sometimes, you may prefer a chill and laid-back journey where you can appreciate everything you sense around you.

Sometimes, you may prefer an exciting, fast-paced journey where everything is a beautiful blur of colours and notions. 

In the video game that is reality, YONGL uses his bike to ride and navigate the various areas of a map with free-roaming access. 

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

This special series represents YONGL’s creative participation with Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia. The artwork in this series is built on the foundation of Mitsubishi’s slogan, “Drive your Ambition”, which states a strong commitment to the values and aspirations of its drivers. This series tells the story of a man behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi who transports the moon, a recurring concept which signifies dreams and ambitions, from the forest into the city. 

YONGL produced this series to highlight the toilsome efforts of a Mitsubishi driver who is determined to overcome harsh obstacles in order to fulfil his dreams and ambitions. YONGL tells us that just as the moon needs the sun in order to shine, our dreams and ambitions need to be brought into the light in order to glow. 

YONGL conveys that it is up to us to bring our dreams and ambitions out of the dark where they cannot shine and cannot be seen by anybody to a place where we can fulfill our true potential. The Mitsubishi is akin to a jaguar, leaping through the forest with great speed to transport its precious cargo to a place where it will be appreciated as it should be.

In order to succeed, we must take a leap of faith. The Mitsubishi driver takes this leap in hopes that it will guide him to his destination. Though there is the risk of falling and crashing, the driver believes that taking this shot in the dark is better than staying where he is in his comfort zone and not being any closer to achieving his goals.

At last, the Mitsubishi is parked in the urban landscape and the moon has found light to reflect. Our dreams and ambitions can only prosper in an environment that nurtures them in order for them to glow as bright as the moon does against the stark backdrop of the night sky. 

Arriving at your destination is not the conclusion of your story; there is always room for growth. YONGL tells us to work towards our dreams and ambitions by lifting ourselves up high despite everything that tries to bring us down. You never know how high you can fly until you try. YONGL encourages us to use the tools that we have to lift our dreams and ambitions up to great heights. 

In this series, the Mitsubishi might have been portrayed like the pegasus of cars; galloping through challenges and taking leaps of faith only to fly higher each time. In reality, it is us ordinary human beings who are the drivers of such magnificent beasts. YONGL reminds us that we have to steer ourselves through life to get where we want to be.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

The "In Search of Hope" series uses the moon as a symbol of hope in times when things don’t go our way. What matters most is that we never stop searching for hope as the moon is only illuminated when its surroundings are dark. A man is a dead man when he ceases to expect from tomorrow. Keep on searching as part of the process of life, never the result.

To tell stories, writers use words and photographers use pictures. In this series, YONGL shares excerpts of a story that is rooted in the themes of hope; having hope, having too much hope, and never giving up hope. YONGL illustrates that too much hope may manifest into unrealistic expectations that can result in disappointment when they cannot be fulfilled. Have hope, have lots of it, but not too much that you’ll be crushed under the weight of it. 

Where does hope come from? It can come from within ourselves but it also comes from others. YONGL tells us that we can share a small bit of the hope we have to others so that they may create a bigger hope of their own. When times are difficult, we must be hopeful and work towards sharing the sentiment with each other for a brighter tomorrow. 

Where there is hope, there are people that provide it. YONGL captures the hard workers who work day and night in order to deliver a small ball of hope to the people that they love to the moon and back. 

Through this series, YONGL does not only tell stories but also offers deeper perspectives and insights on life. He conveys the message that we mustn’t hold onto hope until our dreams and desires are enslaved by it. Sometimes, letting go and allowing it to fly away may give us the chance to be hopeful for a better tomorrow. 

Hope is needed everywhere in every place. Just like the moon is needed to brighten the dark night, hope is needed to brighten the darkness in our homes, neighbourhoods, cities, and nations. A golden sliver of hope spilling through the streets of a city is enough to revive it from the dark.

Hope may be within reach, we just need to go fishing for it. YONGL tells us to grab the resources and opportunities we have to reach for our dreams.  

Kuala Lumpur is a city built of hope. YONGL pays tribute to all those who work hard to stack bricks of hope upon one another in order to build the skyscrapers that inspire dreams. 

Be hopeful and aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

When you’re looking for a place with a beautiful backdrop to create a memorable moment, it’s easy to claim that places overseas are way better than places in our locality. Places are like people — talents can come from anywhere and paradises can be anywhere. This series gives you an insight into the fact that sometimes, the very best of places reside right where you are. In this series, YONGL takes you around Malaysia and presents to you the underappreciated places with hidden beauty right in the home of Malaysia’s landscapes. 

Memories Around Malaysia presents a series of photographs of the picturesque landscapes and lifestyles local to Alor Setar, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Pantai Timur, Sabah, and Sarawak. 

YONGL begins this series in a sentimental place which is his mother’s hometown and also where he began his photography journey  — Alor Setar. The paddy fields that cultivate the crops which energise the locals of Kedah’s capital are captured against the backdrop of skies streaked with yellows, blues and purples. 

The next stop in this series is YONGL’s birthplace and hometown — Penang. From the hills to the coastline, the bustling state of Penang provides a balance between beautiful natural sceneries and bright night lights that sparkle even from aerial views in the far distance. YONGL shares his memories of his beloved hometown through his camera lens that captures the beautiful contrast of the state’s natural and man-made gems in both day and night. 

When YONGL moved to Kuala Lumpur for university, he began experimenting with street photography in the nation’s concrete jungle. This city is where he photographed stills of the urban lifestyle that features the familiar sights of street vendors, neighborhood kids playing after school, and the foot and vehicle traffic of a bustling city. 

While documenting the Malaysia city that never sleeps, YONGL also features the paddy fields in the rural areas of the state that surrounds it — Selangor. 

It is a known fact that some of Malaysia’s biggest exports come from oil palm and rubber plantations but how many of us have witnessed the behind the scenes of how these raw materials are sourced? YONGL shows us a glimpse of this reality in Kangkar Baru, Johor.  

YONGL also shares the mesmerising sights of the scenic route between Johor and Kelantan. 

Across the sea from Semenanjung are Sabah and Sarawak where YONGL documents his journey of climbing to the peak of Mount Kinabalu and the magnificent, breathtaking views that he experienced on his way to the top. 

He also photographs the beauty of the sunsets in Miri, Sarawak. Though we view these photographs through a screen, the warmth of the Malaysian sun radiates through the camera lens and brightens the scenes beautifully captured by YONGL. 

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

From an up-high aerial perspective that glances over the horizon, the city of Kuala Lumpur is a mere set of artificial, miniature blocks and buildings. YONGL created this series as a re‑imagination of Kuala Lumpur in a world of surrealism where nature, being the powerful force that it is, seeps into the city and becomes one with it. YONGL illustrates the importance of mankind choosing to coexist with nature; one of the most fundamental building blocks of our existence. 

In this series, YONGL depicts a high and mighty “cornscraper” that stands in contrast against the metropolitan background of urban Kuala Lumpur. The juxtaposition of a natural, earthen creation such as corn asserting its dominance over industrial buildings and blending into a cosmopolitan society reminds mankind of the importance of nature, even in our modern-day society. Nature is and should be in our city for it once flourished in the lands that our skyscrapers are built upon. 

Through this series, YONGL reminds us that the cities in which we believe we are separate from nature are being held together by the essence of it. We are not apart from nature, we are a part of nature. We build skyscrapers to develop our quality of life but nature builds corn that sustains our lives. YONGL suggests that by sustaining our nature and our ecosystem, we can build our society to be better and to soar to great heights like the cornscraper built from small, individual kernels.

YONGL draws inspiration from his real life experiences and conveys his stories through photographs that his fellow Malaysians can relate to. With pieces influenced by his hometown and Malaysia’s independence day, YONGL bridges the connection between our nostalgic early years which bore a good deal of nature and the contemporary present which is shifting towards an urban landscape.

Humans aren’t the only life forms in the ecosystem, YONGL reminds us of the free birds and busy bees that live among us in the cities but work in their offices of nature. YONGL depicts a concrete jungle that is home to the same creatures that live in a real one. 

Lest we forget the creatures that dwell in the seas that surround our Peninsular. Inspired by the shapes and forms of real life architecture, YONGL reimages sea creatures in submerged versions of the cities and towns we call home. 

Whether it’s a corn-fusing perspective that tells a story of nature being so high in stature that it looks down upon our city’s skyscrapers, a fusion of the old and the new, a conceptualization of insects as workers, or a metaphor for how we’re quarantined in a bubble, YONGL can convey the message via photography.

YONGL continues to create and inspire Malaysians by depicting the bits and pieces of their everyday life against a backdrop of surrealism. Check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. Stay updated with YONGL’s latest works on his Instagram and Facebook.

CARDINALS RACING, a quality motorcycle parts manufacturer in Malaysia has been a long- time client of YONGLStudio. In this first Inside YONGLStudio post, we interviewed YONGL, the founder of the creative agency to find out how the client relationship between Cardinals Racing began.

How did you meet your client from Cardinals Racing?

In 2015 when I was studying in Cyberjaya, I got my first bike. I had to find a repair shop for maintenance, but there were no bike repair shops in the area back then. I headed over to Dengkil and found this shop called KF Wong Motor Repair. It was before they rebranded as the Cardinals Racing we know today. Back and forth, I went to the shop for maintenance in the next few months back and forth and I was lucky enough to get to know the owner. 

How did your relationship with the client begin?

As the owner and I got closer, I told him about my freelance photography business and bonded over our love of motorcycles. By the time I graduated college, their business was blooming. He gave me a couple of small gigs doing photography and videography and introduced me to their marketing manager.

In 2019, they needed a writer for their product catalogue and the owner decided to get me to help out since I did some writing for my own artworks, plus I understood the world of motorcycle. From there on, I started working long term with them, on a monthly basis. That was when we started building a mutual trust with each other. At that point, I had already finished writing copy for their catalogue of roughly 100 products, describing the motorcycle parts they sold, had begun work on their Facebook postings and even made them a promotional artwork that is now being displayed at their store front in Dengkil.

During MCO, when Covid-19 hit, their marketing manager left and they were short of manpower in their marketing team. Having brought together a small team of creatives, I proposed to take on their social media marketing, providing them with design, product photoshoots and writing.

Having worked with Cardinals Racing so many years, what's the most enjoyable about working with them?

What makes it enjoyable working with Cardinals Racing is that they're great clients. They put a lot of trust in us and our creative vision and also give us a lot of freedom creatively instead of micromanaging everything we do. Not only that, the marketing team at Cardinals Racing know exactly what they want and they communicate clearly, so we won't have to make too many amendments and we appreciate it a lot. Most of the time they're extremely satisfied with the work we do.

PURSUING the creative journey is extremely tough. Even if you know what you want to do in the future, your circumstances may not be the most favorable. Either, your parents can't afford to pay for your tuition fees, or they disapprove of your career choice, maybe even BOTH. 

In an interview, YONGL shares how in such an unfortunate situation, he hacked the system and got a full scholarship - the STAR Education Award to pursue a Foundation in Creative Multimedia leading to a Bachelor's Degree in Animations and Visual Effects in Multimedia University (MMU), Cyberjaya. 

What motivated you to give the STAR Education Award application a go?

My parents could not afford to pay for my college education, so that was my only choice if I wanted to pursue a degree in the program I was passionate about. There was no other way. 

What's the first thing everyone should know before applying for a scholarship?

The most important thing is you have to know which program you want. I knew early on that I wanted to pursue a career in the professional creative industry. That's why I chose a Bachelor's Degree in Animation and Visual Effects. If you don't know what you want, then try as many things as you can. Find it. It could be something you're passionate about or an activity that comes naturally to you. You might not even know it's your strength because to you it's like second nature.

How was the entire scholarship application process?

Knowing that applying for a scholarship was the only way to get me where I wanted to go, I started looking for available scholarships, on any platform I could get my hands on (the Internet, local newspapers and all).

Having studied my ass off to secure my full As for SPM, I had nothing to worry about while I waited for the results and the consideration of my scholarship application. I spent the remaining time learning as much as I can, creating personal works and building a portfolio I can later show the interviewers.

Days before the interview at MMU, I took a bus from Penang, where I'm from, to a relative's place in Cyberjaya. It was my very first time here and everything felt new to me - the place and the experience of sleeping on my relative's couch during those few days. I also recall preparing a list of questions that I might get asked and getting my relative to roleplay with me as the interviewer. 

On the day of the interview, there were 6 other candidates in the waiting room with me all hoping they would be the one awarded the full scholarship. I had my fist clenched and on my other hand, I carried my portfolio book with me, my hopes and dreams. Excitement was running through my veins but I was completely ignorant that walking through that door in front of me would completely change my entire life forever.

I was the only candidate who brought in a portfolio book and from the look on the interviewers' faces I could tell that this was IT. They were genuinely impressed. 

"You got full As in Science, why don't you go for other programs instead of Foundation in Creative Multimedia?", one of the interviewers asked out of curiosity.

I replied confidently "because that's what I want. My parents can't afford my tuition so I want to do my best and lift off this burden for them".

One of the last few questions I was asked was "Didn't you apply for The One Academy too? Why didn't you consider MMU as your first choice?" I was completely caught off guard but I responded honestly that The One Academy didn't give me the interview opportunity.

2 weeks after the interview, I received the offer letter. The rest was history.

For media inquiries, please reach out to our PR representative at yinze@yongl.my

THE announcement of SPM results announcement is just around the corner. For many high school soon-to-be graduates, the results would determine the future career paths of many young Malaysians. 

In this first YONGL Revisits post, we sat down with Yongl to find out about how SPM set him on a path of no return 10 years ago and his advice to young creatives out there like him.

What were you like during your teenage years?

I knew that I wanted to pursue an art-related career in high school, having discovered my interest in drawing at an early age. Unfortunately, due to Malaysia's education back then, I was forced to major in science, since everyone thought it would open up to more career options. I went for sub-science, dropped bio and took accounting instead. Knowing that my parents couldn't afford to pay for my college tuition, I had to aim for good results and get a full scholarship. To achieve this goal, I ended up spending most of my high school years studying. Only during my free time did I get to self-learn photography and digital art. 

I still remember my first DSLR camera was given to me by my mom and it was bought on a 3-year instalment. From then on I pushed myself harder, to strive for excellence because deep down, I could not bear to let her down for everything she has given me.

What were your parent's thoughts about your aspirations?

They did not approve of course because creative professions were always perceived as a futureless path. They were very uncertain and being unexposed to the success stories of creative professionals, they did not trust that it would work out. My parents worried if I pursued the creative path, I couldn't make a living for myself. 

You got full As for your SPM, did it convince them?

Nope, it didn't. My parents thought using my SPM results to apply for a full scholarship for an arts program was extremely not worth it. They'd rather I studied to be a doctor or a lawyer instead. Despite their disapproval, it did not stop me from pursuing what I seek.

What advice would you give to young people out there who come from a similar background as yours?

Discover your strengths, and what you want to do or enjoy doing as early as possible. The best way to find it is to try as many things as you can and just put yourself out there.

Whichever career path you take in the future will inevitably be rocky, full of ups and downs. If you pursue a path that's not suitable for you, you'll most likely give up sooner or later. But remember, doing what you enjoy doesn't make it less difficult, it just makes it more bearable and you'd feel the struggle is worth it. Life is extremely tough, you might as well live it while doing what you want.

If your parents can't afford to pay your tuition fees and disapprove of you pursuing the creative journey, your best bet is to "hack the system". Use your SPM results to go after what you want. Fight for your results! In such a case, studying for results will be a wise choice to get you the full scholarship to study whatever you want.

For media inquiries, please reach out to our PR representative at yinze@yongl.my 

HAVE anyone ever looked down on you because of your old second-hand car? When a client told Malaysian creative, YONGL, his old Proton didn't suit his artistic ability, he didn't get embarrassed. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to show it off to the world by using it as one of the major themes of his artworks.

YONGL not only brought his extraordinary ideas to life but he also made work that was relatable to all Malaysians. Many of his personal projects were inspired by real life experiences like the recent petrol prices rising and the increase of traffic jams in KL.

Staying true to himself and not letting others' opinions affect him, YONGL was eventually given an rare opportunity by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia to shine as a local professional creative.

"I've always wanted to bring Malaysia's creative industry to the global stage, that's why I love using things every Malaysians can relate to such as our national car - Proton, because it represents our country the best" says YONGL.

This Old Saga series is still ongoing, so be on the lookout for more awe-inspiring artwork from YONGL. While you wait, why not check out feature stories about YONGL on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. YONGL' is also active on posting his work on his Instagram and Facebook?

For media inquiries, do reach out to our PR representative at yinze@yongl.my.

CYBERJAYA, within a few weeks, Malaysian creative, YONGL 's Foodscape series went viral and left the local media outlets and the public awed with his unique take on local food and landscapes.

Malaysia's multi-culture and it's huge variety of foods is what makes the country stand out. With his unconventional ideas, YONGL decided to present local delicacies along with the stunning landscapes of the country to show the world how wonderful Malaysia truly is, starting with his work on Ketupat and Ba Chang during Hari Raya and the Chinese Dragonboat Festival. Sometimes he even incorporates pop-culture into his food-themed artworks.

Not willing to settle, YONGL aspires to bring Malaysia to the global stage. "This is still the beginning", says YONGL, "my team and I are planning for a Malaysia round-trip to capture spots all the way from Penang to Johor and Sarawak to Sabah, featuring all the delicacies that can be only found in those states".

YONGL will be teasing a new site called Foodscapes in the near future, be sure to look out for it. In the meantime do check out feature stories about Yongl on Free Malaysia Today, the Sun Daily and World of Buzz. YONGL' is also active on posting his work on his Instagram and Facebook.

For media inquiries, please reach out to our PR representative at yinze@yongl.my