Article by Emmagem.com

Penny Yuen- Story Teller

Nov 4, 2008 Author: yetmee

emmagem.com , met up with the Penny Yuen recently and over a cup of coffee ,got to know this talented graphic designer and “eco- warrior alter ego”. Well, Penny would not be your ideal image of a “warrior , because she is very petite. But whoever said that heroism is measured by one’s physical size obviously forget, that it is the fighting spirit that counts!

Known for her alter ego eco warrior ,Pokok ,a soft toy, http://www.ecowarriorpokok.blogspot.com/, Penny takes on the role of story teller, talking and educating people about Pokok’s cause in saving the environment.

Pokok, Sherlock Holmes of a teddy bear , started his “career” by investigating the harm done to turtles due to pollution and use of plastic bags after hearing about their plight from Mr Loh, Director of Malaysian Nature’s Society. The first investigation into the turtle family’s desctruction was told with the unfinished turtles’ bodies in various states of decomposition at The Recylist’s “No Plastic Concert” in July 2008. Penny told of Pokok’s anger againts humans and his criminal investigation into their role in the destruction of the environment! She told the story with Pokok at the makeshift graveyard for the turtles with polystyrene lunch boxes as coffins!!(see pix above). Her funniest moment was when ‘the green family ” knelt to pay their respects .

According to Penny, ” it is easy to tell the story through Pokok , because people just naturally warm up to Pokok and usually come up to ask about him”…quite brilliant, I’d say because environmentalist messages sometimes comes across as too preachy , so in this way the graphically strong message is loud and clear but softened with a soft toy…Pokok has also met up with a new friend Chiquitita recently, to know full story go to the www.ecowarriorpokok. blogspot.com.

On a personal note, Penny plays her own part in saving the economy through a “non-consumption” policy! She believes everything is driven by supply and demand, so she is adamant in not contributing her part.
She personally only has about ten pieces of necessary clohing in her wardrobe. She also tries to eat and support the organic lifestyle. What about birthday gifts and all “…well people understand and I also try to make things to give away..”.

Penny’s next event would probably be held at Kiara Park, she is thinking of the “graveyard” on a bigger scale…with the full funereal effects like the music and ceremony. It would be quite dramatic, I reckon. Nothing like a shock to the system to get the message across, sometimes…

By the way , Penny’s artwork is also recently exhibited in the Man and God Exhibition in Beijing.