Malaysian artist chi too—known for his wry, experimental works addressing narratives of community, identity, and daily existence—passed away in his home studio in Kuala Terengganu on March 7, aged 44. 

Born in 1981 in Kuala Lumpur, chi too—whose name was always written in lowercase to reflect his playful personality—was originally trained in mass communication and sound engineering before becoming a self-taught artist. He emerged in the late 2000s as a key figure among young Malaysian artists who turned toward multidisciplinary, alternative artmaking, working across painting, performance, installation, video, photography, sound, and text. His peers include Samsudin Wahab, Haslin Ismail, and Sabri Idrus, as well as artist groups such as Rumah Air Panas (RAP) and Lost Generation Space (Lostgens). In 2009, chi too, together with Simon Soon, Munkao, and Dill Malik, conceived a now disbanded collective named The Best Art Show In The Univers, whose often conceptually discordant yet thought-provoking projects shaped chi too’s own practice. 

Throughout his oeuvre, he employed a largely research- and process-driven approach, balancing humor and gravitas to explore societal issues, environmental concerns, and local livelihoods. Moreover, he sought to nurture meaningful interactions between art and the public, overseeing several participatory initiatives such as Main Dengan Rakyat (2009–10), a monthly program in which he organized traditional schoolyard games at Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur.

A prominent voice in the city’s creative community, chi too received the 2011–12 Fellowship for Asian Public Intellectuals from Japan’s Nippon Foundation. He also served as a producer at ILHAM Gallery while supporting artists and entrepreneurs in the Zhongshan Building, a creative hub in the capital. At The Back Room, an exhibition space located within the complex, chi too held his final solo presentation, “It Is What Is It: chi too And His Stupid Ideas” in 2024. 

Following news of his passing, artists and institutions across the region paid tribute to him on social media. In an Instagram post, Rumah Attap Library & Collective wrote: “[W]e had always received much care, support, and love from chi too. We remember in the early days, our neighbor chi too’s space was always filled with laughter and energy. . . . [His] energy, warmth, and passion will live on in our hearts.”

Yuqian Fan is an editorial assistant at ArtAsiaPacific.