43. Walls of Memory and Fiction with Yip Yew Chong

In this episode, Nicholas Braman sits down with Yip Yew Chong, the artist whose nostalgic murals have become a defining feature of Singapore's urban landscape. While his work captures the soul of neighborhoods like Chinatown and Tiong Bahru, the story behind the brush is one of pragmatic transition and mid-career reinvention. Yew Chong spent 25 years as a finance director before transitioning to full-time artistry at age 49. We move past the aesthetics of his work to explore the "how" of his journey—the three-year "parallel run" where he balanced international business trips with weekend painting sessions on the streets. It is a conversation about the stamina required to follow a passion without ignoring the reality of keeping food on the table. Michelle's links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askmichellelee/  Website: https://www.askmichellelee.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askmichelleleee  Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2h9gsrWKH9C1KY1OzR12kr?si=2a4d19970632465f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/before-we-get-there/id1775182252 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforewegettherepodcast/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nicholasbraman Website: https://nicholasbraman.com/podcast   00:00 Meet Yip Yew Chong 04:44 Breaking Into Chinatown Walls 07:34 Nostalgia Versus Reality 16:32 Finding His Signature Style 22:16 Not Starting Earlier 26:06 Pragmatic Passion Advice 34:19 Evolving And Dream Projects 40:12 Defining Success And Happiness 43:55 Where To Follow And Farewell