Vibrant murals at Laman Kreatif in an initiative celebrating the town’s unique identity and heritage. — Photos: ESTHER CHANDRAN/The Star
Local artists are highlighting Kluang’s charm through a series of paintings depicting icons such as bats, coffee and train.
The murals displayed at Laman Kreatif in the town some 100km from Johor Baru are part of a competition in conjunction with National Month.
Organised by Kluang Municipal Council and Bob Art House, it celebrates the town’s unique identity and heritage under the theme “Genius Loci” – meaning “the spirit of the place”.
The murals capture the essence of artistic expression highlighting the artists’ love for the town.
One large, striking piece showing a man pouring coffee is a nod to Kluang’s famous coffee culture, with the town’s iconic train station and reference to Taman Merdeka community hub blending modern art with local flavour.
Another mural, styled like a page from an exercise book, presents a simplified “All about Kluang” overview.
It illustrates key elements of the town’s identity – the fruit bat (keluang) from which the town gets its name, coffee, Gunung Lambak, and Kluang clock tower – and pays tribute to the town’s history, noting the railway service that began in 1909.
Then there is Keluang Man, the eponymous hero of the local animation and movie series, while the new electric train service (ETS3) that makes the Kuala Lumpur to Kluang journey a breeze also gets a shoutout.
The murals in a variety of styles stand as a colourful testament to the town’s past and a hopeful look toward its future, showcasing the deep connection between its people and the spirit of the place.
Gallery
Vibrant murals at Laman Kreatif in an initiative celebrating the town’s unique identity and heritage. — Photos: ESTHER CHANDRAN/The Star
Rows of mural can be seen at Laman Kreatif.
Another ode to the town is an elaborate painting-within-a-painting featuring a stylised bat and the coffee plant.
(Above) A modern touch highlighting Kluang’s charms.
The charms of Kluang and ‘spirit of the place’ depicted with multiracial folk enjoying coffee, decades-old shophouses, local train, bat and pigeon.
A visitor checking out a mural of Keluang Man reading about the art contest’s ‘Genius Loci’ theme as a local train makes its way into town.
The icons of Kluang are presented in an exercise book style.
This artwork imagines Keluang Man standing under the moon as bats fly overhead. The ETS and Gunung Lambak are prominent too.
Kluang and its fruit bat namesake.
