Street art continues its invasion into many parts of Kuala Lumpur, popping up in the most unlikely places, enlivening neighbourhoods.
The simple act of transforming a dingy wall into a beautiful work of art can produce a positive feeling and evoke emotional responses from the community.
I have included some of the newer murals spotted around KL City.
Kwai Chai Hong (Chinatown)
Officially launched on 11 April 2019, Kwai Chai Hong (Little Ghost Alley) invokes the 1960s nostalgia with a collection of 6 murals depicting the life of early Chinese settlers, all drawn by Malaysian artists.
It was an instant hit among Instagrammers, locals and tourists alike. The sensory experience begins once past the welcoming Chinese arch and onto the red wooden bridge.
A group of entrepreneurs saw the potential of transforming the neglected back lane enclosed by a cluster of pre-war shophouses, into a tourist destination. The restored shophouses have been converted into trendy bars and old school eateries with back entrances that opens directly into the art inspired alley.
Besides the Insta-worthy shots, visitors also get to step back in time, savouring old kopitiam fare alongside new concept local fusion and lifestyle café offerings of coffee, snacks and food.
little girl peeking from the top floor – Bubble Bee Café front entrance
Meanwhile, the back lane opposite the entrance to Kwai Chai Hong leads to another mural that seems to blend into the wall.
‘Goldsmith’ on Jalan Panggung
I find this rustic piece with its monotone colour palette very intriguing. Russian artist Julia Volchkova captured the goldsmith’s intense concentration while working. The white singlet is typically what is worn in my grandfather’s days.
Diverse Styles
#MyKiehlsHeritage mural at Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, day / night views (top / bottom)
‘Ying Yang Mouse’ (left) by Drew Funk, a Malaysian artist / illustrator based in Melbourne, and facade of pre-war buildings in downtown KL (right).
River of Life
Since March 2018, City Hall has been transforming previously dark, smelly and dirty lanes into attraction spots through art and giant mural paintings. Following the positive feedback on its pilot project at Changkat Bukit Bintang, beautification works at other back lanes has been on-going throughout the pandemic.
Two giant murals measuring 1,200sq ft each, located at the Masjid Jamek lookout point at the River of Life (RoL) site went unnoticed for 6 months after it was finished in March 2020. Completed 2 days before lockdown (MCO 1.0) on March 18, it was finally seen during the recovery phase of MCO in June, going viral in September.
The intricate murals are the work of the same team of artists responsible for the ‘Lost Stream’ of Jalan Alor and Changkat Bukit Bintang inner lanes.
Painted on the walls of two private buildings, one scene depicts the old Medan Pasar or what was once known as Market Square in 1885.
The other scene offers a reflection of the Klang River before urbanisation, with 3 men enjoying a dip in the river, fishing perhaps, and surrounded by lush greenery.
The upstream portion of Sungai Klang where elephants used to bathe is illustrated below.
Lost Art
My all time favourite piece used to adorn the upper side wall of a restaurant along Jalan Nagasari. Sadly, it was painted over sometime in 2019. I still feel the loss today.
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