KUCHING: Sarawak is set to woo Malayans with its eye-catching booth featuring Sarawak’s famous street art murals incorporating elements of culture, heritage, people and nature at MATTA Fair 2022 in Kuala Lumpur this week.
The creative and colourful mural paintings shown at the fair from Sept 2-4 each carries a different theme and message of the various destinations in Sarawak.
Among the mural paintings showcased from Kuching are the ‘Symphony of The Tinsmith’ by famous Sarawakian mural artist Leonard Siaw which portrays one of Kuching’s oldest disciplines, tin smithing during the early settlement of the Chinese in Carpenter Street and ‘Eight Orang Utans Mural’ by Lithuanian street artist Ernest Zacharevic, depicting eight young orangutans in a wheelbarrow.
Besides that, for visitors looking to know the backstory of Sibu, the booth showcases the famous mouth-watering “Sibu delicacies” mural featuring Sibu’s iconic Gong Pia and Kampua Mee along a back lane near Market Road, “Wrapped Chicken and Duck” mural at Sibu Central Market which features a unique selling technique to wrap live chickens or ducks in tubes of newspapers among others. The creative murals were painted by Lau Sei Kwong and Lilian Tang Siu Hui.
Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Integrated Marketing Communications Division deputy chief executive officer Suriya Charles Buassaid said street art in Sarawak is a growing trend which tells interesting stories of the people, culture and history and what makes them unique and diverse.
“We hope that by showcasing this creative art, it will inspire our friends from Peninsular Malaysia to visit Sarawak and discover Sarawak’s culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals.
“Essentially, this also reminds us of how important it is to practise responsible tourism for long-term sustainability and conservation to preserve its heritage,” she said.
Apart from having a preview about Sarawak’s cityscape through street art murals, STB and eight other participating tour agencies will also be delivering a wide range of tour packages encompassing Sarawak’s culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals (CANFF) to offer Malayans or expats residing in Malaya looking to experience one of Malaysia’s most exotic locations.
Among the unique attractions that the packages offer are village cultural experience such as going on a Iban longhouse tour and staying in one of the various Iban longhouses to experience the culture and tradition of the Iban community, exploring Bengoh Dam known as the “Jurassic Park” of Kuching, a hearty food trail adventure in Sarawak, a trip to coastal villages in Bruit, Daro and Matu, or even a trip to the renowned Mulu National Park, a UNESCO Heritage Site to have a grand view of the caves which bear a distinct resemblance to the profile of Abraham Lincoln and the infamous Pinnacles.
Additionally, visitors to the Sarawak Booth can also have the opportunity to experience and enjoy Sarawak’s soothing indigenous music with live performances by Sarawak’s legendary sape musician and vocalist Jerry Kamit at a designated time.
Visitors will also have the chance to participate in the Q&A sessions to win Sarawak’s limited-edition souvenirs such as pepper gift bags, Sarawak table coasters and Borneo organic soap.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Booth at the MATTA Fair is located at booth number 4046-4051 and 4070-4075 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).
