🎨✨ Padungan Street Turns 100 – Seven Heritage Murals Unveiled! ✨🎨

Padungan Street has officially marked its centennial with the unveiling of seven stunning heritage murals — a vibrant tribute to the ancestors whose hard work, creativity, and traditions shaped this historic Kuching neighbourhood over the past 100 years.

Created by renowned Sarawakian artist Leonard Siaw, the murals beautifully capture vintage trades, community life, and timeless traditions. Each artwork tells a story of struggle, perseverance, and triumph — moments that laid the foundation of Padungan’s cultural identity today.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who officiated the launch, described Siaw as a “living legend”, praising his contribution to making Kuching a culturally rich and vibrant city.

🖌️ The Seven Murals & Their Stories:
1️⃣ Mending the Tides of Time – Honouring the Heng Hua fishing community
2️⃣ A Cup Passed Down – Celebrating traditional herbal tea (liang teh) brewing
3️⃣ The Ride of a Lifetime – Featuring vintage bicycle traders
4️⃣ The Spirit of the Race (Lumba Kuda) – Reflecting horse racing during the Charles Brooke era
5️⃣ A Bakery Through the Seasons – Showcasing traditional pastry and mooncake craftsmanship
6️⃣ Forging the Steel of Resilience – Paying tribute to blacksmiths
7️⃣ The Everlasting Shape of Joy – Portraying traditional ang ku kueh makers

The centennial ceremony was officiated at “The Ride of a Lifetime” mural — a nostalgic tribute to bicycle workshops that once lined Padungan’s narrow streets.

Back in the 1950s, bicycles were essential for daily life — to school, to work, to the market. The mural not only captures skilled mechanics repairing worn bicycles but also reflects the strong community bonds built through shared routines and mutual support.

Leonard Siaw’s murals are already iconic across Kuching — from India Street to Riverside — and even overseas. Visitors frequently use his artworks as selfie backdrops, turning heritage into living, shareable memories 📸✨

Also present at the celebration were Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Padawan Municipal Council chairman Tan Kai, joining the community in commemorating Padungan’s rich history and enduring legacy.

As these murals now stand proudly along Padungan Street, they carry forward the stories of the pioneers who journeyed south in search of a livelihood — preserving their struggles, celebrating their resilience, and reminding future generations of the enduring spirit that shaped Kuching South.

🏮 A century of history.
🎨 Seven murals.
❤️ One vibrant community.

📷Dayak Daily