It was almost ten years ago when I first met Julius (Kangblabla) at his first toy fair. While everyone else had plastic and vinyl designer toys, his were colourful and made of wood. No two were the same, they stood out, and when given some thought, you’d realise that each figure has the colours of a cartoon character from the 80s and 90s.

Thanks to the lockdown I didn’t have to meet the folks that I interview in person. That let me talk to Julius who was in Penang. 

Back then, when I asked him why he made his figures out of wood, he said it is because that was what he had lying around. He still makes his one of a kind wooden designer figures. Now they are more elaborate and more colourful than ever before. But still made from wood and paint he has lying around.

Some of the folks at the other booths at the toy fair said that not many people are fond of those wooden toys. Julius calls them Kebab Toys, and it’s true, most Asian visitors to his booth didn’t buy his wooden figures. However, the expatriates and foreign tourists that came to the show almost cleaned him and bought everything he got on the first day. 

It was heartening to see one humble man’s honest work appreciated like that.

You can follow Julius and see his latest creations on Instagram.