The walls of a former prison in Johor Baru became a canvas for graffiti, while a public park was transformed into a world of fantasy.
Despite their differences, both events opened up alternative spaces for people to express themselves, explore their interests and find like-minded communities.
This was evident at Kota Jail, where 24 graffiti artists from Malaysia and abroad gathered for Graff For Nation (GFN) 2.0 from Sept 25 to 27.
Alongside GFN 2.0 was the inaugural Ren Faire at Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC) Johor Baru.
The Ren Faire event offered visitors a glimpse into an imagined world inspired by the Renaissance and the era of the Melaka Sultanate, through costumes, live-action role-playing (LARP), workshops, games and performances.
Despite the different themes, both events gave people a chance to connect through creativity.
Drawing graffiti vision Launched in 2024 by the National Art Gallery with financial support from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, GFN is an international graffiti art event.
GFN 2.0 is also part of the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign, connecting established graffiti artists from Asia and Europe with local talent.
Beyond providing a platform for artists, GFN is known as the “Spatial Creative Zone” – using art to give abandoned or underutilised spaces a new lease of life while creating community spaces that can attract visitors.
Its pilot project in Langkawi in October 2024 was held at Hospital Sultanah Maliha, the old Kuah hospital.
The abandoned hospital, which had been unused since 1995, was turned into a graffiti hub and gallery under the initiative.
However, the project could not be sustained because of issues involving ownership of the building and land.
The building was eventually demolished in January this year.
For GFN 2.0, organisers turned their attention to Kota Jail in Johor Baru – an old prison that now functions as an independent creative hub for arts events.
The organisers chose the location to show how neglected spaces can be transformed.
The festival also aims to connect local artists with established international graffiti practitioners, allowing them to share knowledge and techniques across borders.
But GFN’s organisers are looking beyond graffiti alone.
The festival incorporates elements of other subcultures, including local designers, designer toys and coffee culture, to create what organisers describe as a wider creative ecosystem.
It also seeks to introduce young people and students to graffiti as a legitimate form of artistic expression and potentially a career opportunity.
For some, the appeal goes beyond simply creating attractive murals.
It is about changing perceptions of an art form that has long been associated with unauthorised markings and vandalism.
Fatah said his pieces often drew inspiration from elements such as the wau bulan, railway imagery and wayang kulit.
His interest in drawing began at an early age before eventually leading him to graffiti.
“Graffiti in Malaysia is growing. Previously, people mostly saw it as vandalism because they did not understand the culture behind it,” he told StarMetro.
Events such as GFN, he added, gave artists a platform to showcase the creative side of graffiti and help change public perceptions of the art form.
“Such events are important because they give local artists the chance to promote our work and connect with the public,” he said.
Fatah said Malaysia’s graffiti scene was also part of a wider regional and international movement, with established communities in countries such as Singapore and Indonesia.
Penang graffiti artist Abdul Qoyyum Mohd Nadzri’s journey began with drawings and doodles at a cybercafe.
He became interested in graffiti around 2008.
What started as casual drawing eventually developed into a serious interest in graffiti, leading to his participation in organised events.
“This is the second time I’ve taken part in the GFN.
“My friends and I drove all the way from Penang to take part in the Johor Baru event,” he added.
Abdul Qoyyum said the 12-hour painting session gave artists a chance to sharpen their techniques while working alongside one another and tackling the challenges of large-scale pieces.
Once upon a time
While GFN transformed the walls of a former prison, Ren Faire took a different approach – inviting people to temporarily leave the modern world behind.
The event, organised for the first time at TMIYC Johor Baru, was built around the theme “Once Upon A Time”.
Co-organiser Namazie Imran Namazie Noah, 29, said the event featured vendors, games, workshops and activities.
It allowed visitors to become part of the atmosphere rather than simply watching from the sidelines.
Visitors were encouraged to dress in costumes inspired by the Renaissance and Melaka Sultanate.
Among them was 24-year-old Abdullah Ariff, who works for a film production company.
He said LARP provided a platform for participants to experience storytelling through role-playing, costumes and simulated combat.
He said the combination gave the character a different identity from the more conventional medieval fantasy characters often associated with LARP.
“It feels fresh because I am bringing local mythology into the character,” he said.
Abdullah added that activities involving LARP and similar subcultures remained relatively uncommon in Malaysia, making events such as Ren Faire an opportunity to meet people with similar interests.
“Hopefully, Ren Faire will grow bigger in years to come. I hope it will attract more people to come and enjoy themselves,” he said.
The event also featured workshops by Oddball, journalling activities with Papercults, tabletop adventures by Adventurers’ Guild, LARP combat tutorials by Ranger’s Guild, chess challenges by Chess MTS and Magic: The Gathering.
Behind the fantasy setting, however, was a group of organisers and volunteers working with limited resources.
Ren Faire event manager Wan Nur Afiqah Mohd Rashid, 35, said the organisers faced challenges including a limited budget.
They also had to juggle organising duties with their permanent jobs and other commitments.
“Despite that, we managed to bring together volunteers who contributed not only manpower but also their own skills to prepare for the event,” she added.
She said preparation for the event was a form of stress relief for some of the volunteers.
“From event management and creative planning to carpentry and decorating the park, everyone contributed skills,” she said.
Wan Nur Afiqah added that the event had also attracted interest from outside Johor, with enquiries coming from people in Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu and Sabah after details were shared on social media.
The organisers kept the event modest in scale, matching it to the capacity of their volunteer team.
She said they hoped future editions could receive greater support and sponsorship.
Wan Nur Afiqah also thanked Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) for giving the green light for the event to be held at TMIYC Johor Baru.
Successful outing
Ultimately, both GFN and Ren Faire show how creative communities can grow when people are given space to experiment, collaborate and express themselves.
For the people behind them, the vision goes beyond the events, with spaces where creativity can thrive, communities can grow and young Malaysians can discover new ways to connect through art and culture.
