The Star Malaysia

Sarawak’s biggest mural unveiled

Artists take 22 days to complete 567sq m humanitari­an-themed painting

- By ANDY CHUA andychua@thestar.com.my

SIBU: Sarawak’s largest mural painting, measuring 567sq m, has been completed on a wall outside the six-storey Wisma Vasty in Jalan Pulau here.

It took lead artist Aries Kong and his team – Koh Yong Ling from Bintangor, Taro Hooi from Penang and Jane Zhen from Sibu – 22 days to complete it.

The team worked into the early hours to add the final touches before the launch at 10am yesterday.

The delighted building owner, councillor Robert Lau Hui Yew, set off a 30ft firecracke­r to mark the launch.

Kong, who is known by the moniker “Jagung”, felt that it was the toughest mural he had handled so far.

“This artwork is unique and very special,” he said.

The project, he said, cost between RM30,000 and RM40,000 and was sponsored by Vasty Developmen­t, TBS Enterprise Sdn Bhd and Kiong Joung Hardware Sdn Bhd.

A crane was used to help the artists work on the mural from 8am to 10pm daily. A total of 15 tins of 5-litre paints were used.

Kong said the most challengin­g part was the inclement weather.

“We had to use hairdryer to blow dry each

It is about the people of various races and religions in Sibu who are close-knit and live harmonious­ly together. Aries Kong

completed part to prevent rain water from spoiling it,” he said.

The mural features 15 people and a dog, with the theme “humanitari­an”.

“It is about the people of various races and religions in Sibu who are close-knit and live harmonious­ly together,” Kong said, adding that it also depicted the close relationsh­ip between youths and their parents and the importance of having a caring attitude towards animals.

Lau said he would let the mural remain on the wall “for a very long time for the people to enjoy it”.

 ??  ?? Groundbrea­king feat: Lau (sixth from right) and Kong (ninth from right) with well-wishers in front of the mural.
Groundbrea­king feat: Lau (sixth from right) and Kong (ninth from right) with well-wishers in front of the mural.

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