IPOH: PERAK has unveiled the “Ipoh Mural Art” trail map which showcases the artworks in seven locations in the city here.
This two hour-long trail will cover places from Jalan Tun Sambanthan to Jalan Bandar Timah-Jalan Panglima-Jalan Bijeh Timah-Jalan Market and Jalan Sultan Iskandar, before ending at Jalan Masjid.
Most of the mural arts are drawn by local artists Eric Lai, Bryan Tan, Chris Chow and Mohd Najib Zainudin. Even the famed Ernest Zacharevic from Lithuania had contributed his efforts in creating a mural piece for Ipoh.
The trail is initiated by the state government and supported by the Ipoh City Council and Tourism Perak to boost the tourism in the city.
State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said the Ipoh Mural Art trail was the latest attraction for tourists here, as well as to promote visual arts among artists and tourists.
“Tourists can now take photographs with these murals, depicting the history of Ipoh, local cultures and popular sceneries in the city and post it on Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram.
“The mural art trail also coincides with our earlier Ipoh Heritage trail and Ipoh Food trail promotions, whereby the locations run similarly from Ipoh Railway Station to Kintafront Walk,” she said after launching the mural art lane in Jalan Masjid here on Sunday.
Nolee Ashilin said the state was looking into working with the ETS trains to arrange for tour packages which includes accommodation to bring in tourists from other states into Ipoh.
“We will also be highlighting two new trails, namely, the Mosque trail and the Cafe trail next year.
“Perak is in for an interesting time this year and in future,” she added.
Nolee Ashilin also revealed that the state government would be coming up with a Development Plan and Promotion Strategy 2016-2020 to restructure tourist attractions from Dataran Railway Station to Kinta Riverfront.
“The state government has allocated RM8.5 million for development of tourist attractions in the city next year,” she said.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Harun Rawi said he would discuss with Tenaga Nasional Bhd to put up more lightings along areas covering the Ipoh Mural Art trail to enable tourists to view the artworks at night.
Ipoh district police chief ACP Sum Chang Keong said the police would rope in more volunteers to monitor the mural art areas.
Kuchai Art & Cultural Society chairman Eric Lai said the mural arts, drawn at Jalan Masjid, comprised artistic works by local and foreign artists who came together with a mission to produce mural arts of culture, environment, sports and popular personalities in the country.
“I have been drawing murals for the past two years here and had produced 38 murals,” said the 38-year-old art teacher.
Kay Lee, 21, from China, said she was on a student exchange programme with Universiti Malaya and she had learnt about the mural art participation from a local.
“I wanted to contribute a mural reflecting Chinese festivals at Jalan Masjid.”