Julian
Kam, better known as ‘Lefty’, takes storytelling to the next level and breathes
life into every stroke of his pen – his graphic narratives transcend mere ink
on paper, portraying real-life scenes, people, experiences and authentic
moments. This art form, called ‘documentary comics’ combines journalism and
biography, presented through sequential art, or comics. Lefty employs the use
of sensory ethnography to capture the essence and vibrance of the themes or geographical
locations within the projects he undertakes.
“What I do
is fully immerse myself by relocating to the vicinity of the project I’m
involved in. I observe, indulge in local cuisine, get to know the people, gather
data, conduct research, and then integrate these facts and experiences into the
storyline,” elucidated Lefty, who is left-handed, just like his namesake.
The 'Ferry
Tales’ from the Sama-Sama: George Town series depicts Penang’s iconic ferry
services that traverse the 11-kilometre-wide Penang Straits, ferrying people
and vehicles across the waterway. This particular model of ferry that Lefty
drew has been an integral part of Penang's transportation system and cultural
identity ever since the first double-decker and double-ended prototype, called
the Penang Ferry was built and delivered by the Singapore Harbour Board to
Penang in 1957. It took about two years to construct the prototype.
Thereafter,
the Penang Harbour Board commissioned four more ferries from the Cheoy Lee
Shipyard in Hong Kong in 1959 which were named Pulau Aman, Pulau
Langkawi, Pulau Pangkor and Pulau Tioman. Subsequently, 12
more ferries resembling the prototype were built over the years replacing those
that were too old for servicing the route. The Penang Ferries retained its
prominence, albeit to a lesser extent, even though the Penang Bridge was opened
in 1985. Sadly, after 126 years, the remaining historical ferries were retired
on 31st December 2020. They were replaced by a fleet of four new speed ferries,
launched on 7th August 2023 to ply the channel between the Raja Tun
Uda Ferry Terminal and Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal.
As per the
statistics provided by the Penang Port Commission (PPC), the channel serviced
232,516 four-wheeled vehicles, 418,326 motorcycles, 10,871 bicycles, and
transported 625,926 foot passengers during its final year of operation.
Lefty's
relationship with comics traces back to his formative years, where his passion
for drawing laid the foundation for a future in graphic design. His odyssey led
him through diverse roles – from an art director to a prominent figure in comic
publication and as the editor-in-chief for Left Pocket Creatives in Shanghai. “I
was in Shanghai for more than a year, between 2017 and 2019, then I came back
to set up a branch for the company in Penang. The name of the company is a
happy coincidence,” quipped Lefty, an alumnus of Chung Ling, who turns 54 this
year.
Confessing
his love for things from the past, Lefty shared that he used to wander around the
older parts of Shanghai rather than the cosmopolitan city itself. “I understand
everything changes and we cannot stop progress, so what I could do is to keep
documenting things before they disappear, using the method I know best, which
is graphic storytelling.
“Unfortunately,
we do not have a very comprehensive archival system here, and photographs are
even harder to find. So, I believe drawing to be the most practical way to
capture the essence of what might no longer be around,” expressed a nostalgic Lefty,
who also managed to document the tofu-making business at Perak Road before the
whole village was demolished last year to make way for new development.
Back in
Penang after his stint in Shanghai, Lefty embarked on projects such as 'I Am
Home' and 'Sama-Sama: George Town, A Multicultural Art Journey'. These
undertakings became his canvas, depicting the underbellies of Penang's culture
and history. Through his illustrations, he weaved tales that mirrored the depth
and diversity of this beloved city. “It is hard to choose which ones are my
favourite as they are all my babies, but if I must, I’d say that I particularly
like the Sama-Sama series and the GTWHI (George Town World Heritage
Incorporated) air well series.
“I also
feel very fulfilled at this stage of my career. I don’t view what I do as a job
at all and I take on meaningful projects over the stressful ones even though it
means more money or fame,” mentioned Lefty.
Lefty, who
feels most comfortable on ink and paper as his preferred medium, has also explored
digital colouring and other other art types. “I am very much influenced by
movies and music as well. I like photography, pop art and fine art too. In
fact, I love all visual mediums. I like Batman over Superman, and I find my
inspiration from comic book legends such as Sergio Toppi, Moebius, Mike
Mignola, pre-2000 Frank Miller and Jack Kirby.
“Apart
from documentary storytelling, I also like to tell pulp and pop culture
stories,” said the art maestro. “I will be releasing a new comic called ‘Major
Zombie: The Mark of Blood, Book 1’ in December, and it will be launched at the
Singapore Comic Con.” Major Zombie is a comic character created in 2003 at the Gilamon Studio, an art collective he co-founded with
two other friends to explore the pulp fiction trend and popular themes at that
time. It chronicles the life of a former superhero known as Superium who turned
into a zombie while heroically attempting to save a child from the Zombie King.
Kaktus, the name of the girl Superium saved, later becomes Major Zombie’s
sidekick, while Mikey the maggot and a host of other maggots fight internally against
the zombie viruses that ravage Major Zombie’s body.
From its
initial appearance, Major Zombie inspired Lefty to produce two more graphic
novels: Love and Loss in 2011 and The Blood Trial, the following year. The
Blood Trial won the Best Cartoon Comic Series and Best Independent Comic by PeKomik
Awards in the same year.
Lefty’s artistic
contributions extend beyond paper and bound pages - his work can also be found
on the streets of Penang through the Marking George Town project. Iron-cast
sculptures detailing candid moments from Penang’s history can be found dotting five
locations on the streets of this UNESCO heritage city: Transfer Road, Steward
Lane, Victoria Street, Chulia Street and Muntri Street.
Yet, Lefty’s
style of storytelling through sequential art stretches beyond the boundaries of
our imagination and leaves us hungry for more. Lefty envisions expanding his
comic series, delving into narratives from other locales and regions. His
aspiration is clear – to inspire readers to perceive cities through a wider
lens and to cherish their uniqueness. Fuelled by an inexhaustible well of ideas
and an unyielding love for drawing, there is much more left of Lefty that
remains unseen, promising a future adorned with more masterpieces.
Lefty’s
‘Ferry Tales’ will be on display at the Penang State Art Gallery until 30
November 2023.