The Yok in Bangkok

It'd been awhile since I last spoke to Yok, about two years. But a couple weeks ago I received an email from him informing me that he'd relocated from Perth (Australia) to Bangkok. After I got over being envious of his new adventures in Thailand (only because I wished it was me who was hanging out with Buddhist monks and petting tiger cubs), we got to talking. Turns out Yok is delving into some new artistic territory. He's still crafting street installations that depict his signature gargoyle characters, but he's also doing more gallery exhibitions and experimenting with new ideas like creating large-scale inflatables and working on a new series of paintings with shellac-based inks. Not to mention, he's still doing his thing, art directing the always-on-point King Brown magazine.

What I've always liked about Yok's work is that it's constantly evolving. While he became a recognizable name in the street art game around the turn of the century, he's never settled for that being his sole outlet. If you look at his work, he's first and foremost a talented illustrator. And that's what sets his work apart. He has the ability to create memorable characters who are often engaged in some state of intoxication (see Yok Vs. Fecal Face image on right), trouble, or random misadventure. When we talked back in 2005 for my long-dead blog The Beautiful Destruction, Yok had some interesting things to say about his characters. You can read that interview here, and view some of his older street installations as well. So take a moment to peruse the images in the slideshow above that Yok was kind enough to share with me. And, oh yeah, have a nice day.