ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: FROM CANINES TO KUNG FU, INTRODUCING THE JOURNEY OF HUSKY

Kevin Cheung is a visual artist better known to the world as HUSKY for his iconic canine characters and vinyl collectibles that have made his name synonymous with man’s best friend within art circles.

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UCOLLEX is set to release HUSKY’s latest series of mechanized heroes, the Husky Robot Rescue Team Mystery Box,  priced at $14.99 with 60 editions available from November 14th on the UCOLLEX web app.

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We took this time to catch up with HUSKY ahead of the drop to get to know the story behind his multifaceted journey so far—which has been filled with love, coffee, and nunchucks!

‍A Pragmatic Start in Life

Known for his drive to be different, Kevin actually got his start by working at an advertising company after graduating with a degree in visual communication. “I never dreamed of being an artist or painter when I started, I just worked with clients to create their artwork and designs,” he recalls.

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With a deep knowledge of design already established, Kevin’s desire to create his own work would only come after seeing a Siberian Husky pass by him on a trip to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris. “I saw what I thought was a wolf on the streets! It was such a surreal and cool experience that I began to draw the husky in different styles and situations!” 

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That chance encounter was the creative spark Kevin needed to convince himself to build his own empire by working for himself. That was the moment when a new designer label known as HUSKY was born. 

The Birth of HUSKY: A Label That Knows No Bounds

Kevin moved to Taiwan shortly after establishing HUSKY in 2003 to start his enterprising career with a husky he adopted not long after by his side. 

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He started with toys, clothes, and merchandise themed around three colorful huskies collectively known as HUSKY x3. The name pays tribute to the sincerity of a husky’s love with x3 also representing a heart turned sideways). Further works from HUSKY have since expanded to include other canine themed projects such as Nunchuck HUSKY, Heroes Fall, and HUSKY Robot. 

Nunchuck HUSKY

The latest artwork created by Kevin, blends his love for huskies and nunchucks together in an homage to his own journey so far as an artist—more on the nunchucks later. For now, this one of a kind painting of canvas holds a special place in Kevin’s heart and essentially sits at his home as a commission to himself. 

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‍Heroes Fall

The inspiration behind this line of bad boys comes from our attraction to all things evil. So why not create a whole line of uniquely molded evil HUSKY vinyl toys? This was the genesis for Heroes Fall, a collection of villainous canines remixing iconic elements from Kevin’s favorite Marvel and DC flicks.

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HUSKY Robot 

Take a closer look and you’ll find elements of recycled parts added to the exterior of certain HUSKY Robot vinyls, from the wheels of an old toy truck to the lid of a shampoo pump! This eco-friendly twist also pays homage to the scrappy nature of the Japanese bot designs Kevin grew up with such as Mazinger Z, Kamen Rider, and the Metal Hero Series.

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‍Coffee and Nunchucks: Daring to Be Uniquely Different

Unlike other artists, Kevin didn’t just stop at creating new merchandise and artwork. He also launched a new venture, HUSKY Cafe in 2012 to help fans connect over a cup of coffee while also elevating the experience of HUSKY to another level. “People cannot buy my artwork all the time, but they can continue to experience the vibe, see my creations, and chat with me whenever I stop by.” 

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The desire to branch out in new ways underlines Kevin’s lifelong mantra to exceed at anything that captures his interest no matter the topic, “At the end of the day, if I want to do something, I will just make it happen.” This is what led the artist to start an entirely new journey five years ago; to become a nunchuck master.

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Much like the husky that caught his attention years earlier, it was a random YouTube video that caused him to become enamored with the martial art scene and seek professional training after he mastered the basics at home. “I initially wanted to find a way to stand out from other artists,” says Kevin, “that’s when I learned that nunchucks can also be a form of art I can embrace because it blends elements of strength, speed, and artistry into one.” 

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Kevin continues to practice freestyle nunchucks four hours each day when he isn’t illustrating and has now become a certified nunchuck master in his own right, teaching over 500 pupils and counting. Some of his martial arts can be seen in later HUSKY art pieces such as Nunchuck HUSKY which sees his passions collide on canvas.

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“One art form can inspire another art inside me and vice-versa. I will thrive and adapt to any medium because everything is an art that can be mastered.”

‍Into the World of Digital Collectibles and Future Ambitions

This year, HUSKY is working with UCOLLEX to bring a brand new creation, the Husky Robot Rescue Team, into the metaverse and beyond! The Husky Robot Rescue Team Six are a heavy-duty robot rescue force designed to overcome any challenges in climate and terrain when conventional methods are deemed too dangerous or near impossible. 

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The ease of art to digital collectibles is what appealed most when we reached out to Kevin about this ambitious project. By removing the production time and cost of physical vinyl toy making and replacing it with a digitally accessible product that lives in the metaverse, all Kevin needs to focus on is taking his art ambitions to new heights. One of which is to have his artwork on stage in all its various forms.

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 For now, HUSKY won’t stop and his most popular work, HUSKY x3, will continue to thrive alongside new projects that will help to evolve the brand further. Whatever form this will take, you can be sure to expect the canine to continue being a part of Kevin’s influence in whatever he pursues!