KDG's first graffiti was a tag hastily written at night on the facade of the New World Renaissance Hotel (now the Renaissance Kowloon) in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1998. Fast forward 13 years and Ken (he wants to keep his full name private) is one of the three owners of Dirty Panda which, behind the tagline 'Keep your hands dirty since 2002', is the main importer of graffiti spray paint in Hong Kong.
Ken was born in Hong Kong 32 years ago but saw his first graffiti going to school in Australia when he was a teenager. 'I was not interested back then,' he said. 'I never thought I would be one of the guys starting it in Hong Kong.'
When he returned home in 1998, his interest was triggered by an interview given by MC Yan, graffiti writer and member of the Cantonese hip hop group LMF (Lazy Mutha F***a). He sent him an e-mail and several days later received a phone call.
'MC Yan and his crew invited me to join them and paint the New World Renaissance hotel,' Ken said with a smile. The graffiti lasted only one night before cleaners erased it, but the experience had Ken hooked.
The then 20-year-old started a 'crew' (most graffiti artists belong to a group) called FDC (F*** Da Cops or F*** Da City).
'By 2000, we were the biggest crew in Hong Kong. We would tag everywhere we would skate,' he said. Including the MTR, of course. 'It is always a fantasy for graffiti writers.'