Discovering Amazing Street Art in Kuching (Malaysian Borneo)

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I certainly didn't equate discovering amazing street art in Kuching to anything remotely related to Borneo. In my mind, Borneo was a land of dense jungles and endangered species. Little did I know Kuching, the capital of the state of Sarawak, was a gold mine for street art. As I wandered around, I discovered beautiful, elaborate murals and colorful graffiti. Indeed, Kuching appealed to my inner street art aficionado.

 

Back in 2015, a street art programme was initiated to enhance the city. Local artists took over bare walls to contribute to the programme. The result was an eclectic mix of street art showcasing Sarawak's people, culture and traditions.

 

A mural featuring a red barrel filled with brown baby orangutans

 

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From exotic animals to charismatic characters, the street art scene in Kuching is fresh, vibrant and unexpected. While most of the more prominent murals can be found in the city center, I suggest walking a little further away. I came across some great graffiti on the walls of a cluster of abandoned buildings.

 

Are you ready to discover amazing street art in Kuching? Let’s go!

 

Large mural depicting orangutans and monkeys
As part of a project called "Wild About Kuching", the walls of Singgahsana Lodge were painted in a plethora of art depicting local wildlife

 

Mural art featuring four children of different ethnic backgrounds wrapped in a black, yellow and red flag
This playful mural featuring children from Malaysia's ethnic diversity can be found at the wet market near the bus station

 

Mural of a bird and a nest filled with chicks
Another mural part of the "Wild About Kuching" project painted on the walls of Singgahsana Lodge

 

The whole wall along the Jalan Wawasan overpass is covered in charismatic characters

 

Read also: The Jewish Quarter of Budapest: From Ghetto to Outdoor Art Gallery

 

A mural of a striped orange cat wearing black and white feathers on his head
The leaping cat mural is a tribute to Kuching which is commonly known as "The City of Cats". You can easily spot this mural while walking down Jalan Carpenter

Read also: An Ode to the Felines of Kuching: The City of Cats

 

This mural of a hornbill is on Jalan Power where there’s lots of art by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zachanevic

 

Read also: A Crazy Medley of Street Art in Belgrade

 

The #tanahairku (meaning One Country, One People) hashtag refers to a popular poem, "Taman Air", by Usman Awang. The hashtag was part of a project launched by Petronas in 2015 to celebrate Malaysia Day. This mural highlights the ethnic diversity of Sarawak. You can find this mural on the wall of Granary Kitchen & Bar.


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This cool mural by local artist Amey Sheikh Hali is on Jalan Padungan

 

Another mural with the #tanahairku (meaning One Country, One People) hashtag celebrating Malaysia Day. This mural featuring a hornbill is entitled "Harmony". It's at the corner of Jalan Bazaar and Lebuh Wayang.

 

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Street art in Kuching

 

 

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By: Lydia April 21, 2020

Lydia