A view of one of Cloakwork's street artworks from the 'SafetyMatchSeries', located along the SPRINT highway on the Damansara Link. Photo Cloakwork
In case you haven’t noticed, giant safety "matchboxes" have been popping up around Kuala Lumpur, capturing the attention of drivers and pedestrians alike. These eye-catching urban art pieces are the work of street artist and illustrator Chern Loo, better known as Cloakwork.
"I first came across this half-opened, abandoned storage unit in a parking lot at Setiawangsa LRT station. It looked intriguing, so I thought, why not give this object a new life? It could make the area look less rundown and bring some colourful energy to the people who park there and use public transport," says Cloakwork, 33, in a recent interview.
“I quite liked the idea of bringing safety matchboxes to life, and I'm very fascinated by their old-school designs,” he adds.
The in-demand KL-born artist, who has been livening up the streets and walls of the capital and beyond since 2010, has cheekily dubbed his latest project the "SafetyMatchSeries".
A before-and-after shot of one of Cloakwork's 'SafetyMatchSeries' installations, located in the parking lot of Setiawangsa LRT Station. Photo: Cloakwork
"I'll keep creating until these junction or utility boxes run out – there are no limits to how many I'll make," he says.
For those eager to spot these "matchboxes" on their commute, keep your eyes peeled at SPRINT Damansara Link (in KL), LDP by 1 Utama (Petaling Jaya), Setiawangsa LRT station (in KL), and Bulatan Kampung Pandan (in KL).
Lighting up the nostalgia
Meanwhile, he is on the hunt for more utility boxes and abandoned roadside structures to ignite his creativity.
These installations have struck a chord with Kuala Lumpur drivers and pedestrians, and social media has ignited with nostalgic posts celebrating Cloakwork's latest street art series.
"My late grandfather used to send me to the store for these matches when I was a kid," reminisced one user, while others fondly recalled the matchbox factories in their hometowns.
Cloakwork poses in front of his work on a street in Osaka, Japan where he is currently participating in a graffiti tour. Photo: Alff
"Almost every family in the 1980s and 1990s had these matchboxes for household chores," shared another user. "The design is iconic, especially with its striking red and yellow colours."
One Facebook user even likened Cloakwork's matchboxes to Andy Warhol's Pop Art creations.
The bigger the dream, the better
This year, Cloakwork isn't just about matchboxes; he was recently commissioned by KWSP (Employees Provident Fund) to paint a mural on their UTC Pudu building as part of the "SimpanBaikBaik" initiative. This mural adds his colourful style to KL's skyline while promoting fiscal responsibility.
"Drawing from the central theme, I crafted a narrative featuring four key visual elements – Potential, Memory, Health, and Family," he explains.
"The result is a striking visual backdrop that highlights the main message, resonates with the masses, and encourages social sharing for greater impact and virality."
A view of the 'SimpanBaikBaik' mural at the KWSP building in UTC Pudu, KL. The huge mural by Cloakwork illustrates the concept of saving money divided into four distinct segments. Photo: Cloakwork
Cloakwork hopes that both his commissioned work and the "SafetyMatchSeries" will inspire younger generations - of graffiti artists to maverick illustrators – believe that nothing is impossible.
A muralist or street artist, he says, doesn’t need a gallery to showcase their art; the urban landscape itself becomes their canvas and exhibition space.
"You can have big dreams and there will always be big challenges ahead, but once you overcome them you'll grow bigger just like these objects popping out in the city!" he concludes.
Over the years, Cloakwork has cultivated a diverse portfolio, encompassing everything from large-scale commissioned projects (with big brands and agencies) and environmental street art to independent - guerilla-based - projects. Each work has contributed to his evolving artistic persona.
