Street Art In Kuching, Sarawak: An Outdoor Gallery
Street Art
Street Art in Kuching is a delightful surprise that pops up everywhere in the small city. Much of the history of the City can be found on the walls. The people and cats are common themes. Kuching is Cat City after all.
Since we were visiting Kuching during monsoon season, we elected to spend most of our time exploring the city. Street art in Kuching was a wonderful discovery. Before we went, we researched street art in Kuching. Street art is not permanent art. It changes all the time. Some of the more known areas for street art, including the building with orangutan murals, are no longer there. There’s always something new to see on the streets.
To learn more about our experiences in Kuching, read Visit Kuching During Monsoon Season.
Leonard Siaw is the most prolific street artist in the city. His murals are loving portraits of the people of Kuching. He spends time with his subjects, getting to know them and their lives before he begins working on a mural. His love of Kuching and its traditions shines through in his murals.
The Beautiful Ladies of Semban
Our favorite mural was of The Last Ring Ladies or Dayung Hmuai Semban (The Beautiful Ladies of Semban). The women depicted in the mural are Peluk Abel, Tawud Luhan, Nyukan Genyai, Nyadi Dolah and Singai Nekan. They are in traditional Dayung Hmuai Semban attire. The rings refer to the copper coiled rings (called Ruyank’ng and Rasunk’ng) worn on their forearms and calves. They are part of the Bi’embhan, a sub-tribe of Bidayuh. Ranging in age from 64 – 90 years old, they are the last of the ring ladies and the tradition is dying with them.
For more street art in Asia: Singapore
Location
The mural is at Kota Padawan Mall. Nearby places include Semmengoh Orangutan Reserve and the Pitcher Plant Garden. It is a 20+ minute grab ride from the riverside and can be combined with a trip to Semmengoh.
Ang Ku Kueh Street Art in Kuching
And Ku Kueh was Leonard Siaw’s first mural. It depicts Goh Beng Choo who was well known for her ang ku kueh, a traditional dessert made with glutinous rice and mung bean paste. Siaw spent time with Mrs. Goh before painting the mural. Since it is an older mural, it is fading.
Location:
Lorong (Lane) 16 of Jalan Padungan.
Lumba Kuda (Jockeys)
Another impressive mural is of horse racing. Looking closely, you can see the intensity of the jockeys and the effort of the horses. This was Siaw’s second mural and it shows the history of horse racing in the area at the former Sarawak Turf and Equestrian Club.
Location
Lorong 12 of Jalan Padungan.
Birth of the Labour Frontier
The Birth of the Labour Frontier was one of our favorite murals by Siaw. It is a detailed and evocative depiction of workers at the Kuching wharf during the British colonial era between 1946 and 1963 when immigrant labor was being used to build the city. There is a well at the center of the mural. We were told that the well was originally right next to where the mural was painted.
There’s a famous split mung bean dessert hawker stall next to it. It wasn’t open while we were there.
Location:
Upper China Street, off Carpenter Street
Symphony of the Tinsmith
Tinsmithing was an important industry in Kuching. The street that this mural is was once called Hammering Metal Street (pak tik gei in Hokkien). Now there remains only a few tinsmith shops in Kuching. This mural by Siaw is a tribute to the tinsmiths. He spent time with each of the people in the mural, getting to know them and their history before painting.
This mural is fading and partially blocked.
Location
6, China Street
The Exchange & The Abandoned Craftsmanship
This is a mural in two parts. First, Borneon products are being traded between indigenous and Chinese people. The right side shows the old craft of making wooden clogs brought to Kuching by the Chinese.
Location:
Ewe Hai Street
The Early Mercers in India Street
The mural features two merchants, one Chinese and one Indian. It showcases the commonality of the early merchants in Kuching. We also loved this one as it shows the collaboration of merchants in the Chinese and Indian communities.
Location:
India Street
I Heart Kuching
This mural features Emmeline Carmen Ho cuddling a cat. She is the author of The Journey of Becoming Fearless, about her challenges with diabetes, thalassemia, and other severe medical challenges. It is by Leonard Siaw.
Location
Jalan Wawasan
The Famous Liang Teh shop
Near Tun Jugah Shopping Center is one of Siaw’s most recent murals of a traditional herbal tea shop in Padungan. It can be viewed from many blocks away.
Location
Near Tun Jugah Shopping Center
Anjuran
This is a COVID-era mural by @jagung1991. We were only able to take this photo while driving. Kita Jaga Kita means we take care of each other.
Location:
Off Jalan Haji Taha opposite the Mira Cake House.
The Menua Kitai and Harmony murals
Both of these murals were part of Tanah Airku 3.0 which celebrated the diversity of Malaysia. They are by Amey Sheikh Ali. He had other murals in Kuching, but they are mostly gone.
Jazz Musicians Mural
This mural was painted by Siaw for a jazz event in 2022. It depicts 4 jazz musicians in action.
Location
On the west side of the waterfront near the Riverside Majestic Hotel.
For a small city, Kuching has impressive street art. New murals are being painted all the time. As some murals fade, new ones are being created. Kuching is a living, breathing outdoor art gallery waiting to be discovered. We hope you’ll take the time
For more street art around the world, check out:
Best Street Art in Singapore—Little India, Chinatown, & Haji Lane Street Art
The Best Street Art in Penang: From Street Art Georgetown to Butterworth & Hin Bus Depot
Bushwick Street Art: A Brooklyn Outdoor Gallery
If you found this post interesting, please leave a comment below. We also appreciate shares more people can see the work of the artists in Kuching.
