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KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur will be transformed into a capital of street art and will be adorned with giant wall paintings of various concepts.
These will appear in the back lanes and between city buildings.
The project, which will be carried out in stages, is inspired by the success of this type of mural in cities such as Melbourne, Australia, famous for the creativity of its street artists. His work has become a worldwide attraction.
To this end, the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) is now investigating the design and technical aspects of the matter.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mahadi Che Ngah said that following the success of pilot projects, such as the transformation of previously dark, smelly and dirty lanes at Changkat Bukit Bintang in March 2018, DBKL will expand the project to other lanes.
He said that in addition to the lanes in the Bukit Bintang area, the project would also take place in Lorong Sultan and Lorong Petaling, which are close to Pasar Karat and Petaling Street or “Chinatown”, to make the area more attractive.
“Pasar Karat is often frequented by antique lovers, while Petaling Street is a famous spot among tourists and is also a ‘trademark’ of Kuala Lumpur.
“However, many people are afraid to use the lanes, as they consider them black and unsafe areas. So, this project will give a new image, to make the lanes cleaner, safer and happier ”, he told Bernama.
Mahadi said that for Lorong Sultan, the proposed mural will present the history of the area, with rustic signs posted and the infrastructure there, including the drainage system, improved.
“It will also involve recoloring the pavement and adding additional street lighting,” he added.
For the wall painting in Lorong Petaling, he said it will feature aesthetic and “Instagrammable” nature images (something that is visually appealing and suitable for posting on Instagram’s social media apps) to make the area joyful and beautiful.
“This will help boost the economic sector, especially businesses in the area, with visitors who not only go shopping, but also other leisure activities, such as photography,” he added.
He said that the project to improve the two lanes would be a continuation of the project on the Yap Ah Loy, Lorong Bandar 11 and Lorong Bandar 13 lanes, which will be connected via a walkway.
Mahadi said the street paintings will each have a different concept, theme and identity, depending on the background and history of the area in question, as well as suggestions from the local community.
“For example, in Jalan Alor, people want bright and joyful colors, so images like butterflies and rainbows are chosen,” he said.
Referring to the pilot project in the Bukit Bintang area, Mahadi said that so far, six side and rear lanes have been renovated.
The lanes are at Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang, Jalan Berangan, Jalan Rembia, Jalan Tengkat Tong Shin and Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang, it added.
Meanwhile, he said that two other projects, involving the installation of a pocket garden at the intersection of Jalan Rembia (opposite the Hotel Malenge) and a food festival at Jalan Rembia and Jalan Alor, are still in the planning stage.
“These projects will be implemented due to the significant impact they will have on the local community, so that they love the place and create a sense of belonging. It will encourage them to take care of the place.
“From just being inside the buildings, they now feel good and comfortable going out for outdoor activities, meeting and communicating with others,” he added.
The transformation, he said, would also increase the rental value of commercial lots in the area by up to 40%, in addition to creating employment and business opportunities.
In addition to the back and side lanes, he said DBKL is also looking to have wall paintings on suitable buildings, such as “power pillars” and along walkways, such as the one in the River of Life (RoL) Bukit Nanas area.
Mahadi said the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market has also been “alive” and embellished with wall paintings.
“We also see the potential for the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market to become a tourist attraction, such as the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne,” he added.
