A visitor tests out the AR feature on Chan Kok Sing’s 'The Kid Playing Marble' mural at Kwai Chai Hong lane in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, proving that even childhood memories can get a tech upgrade. Photo: The Star/Art Chen
Downtown Kuala Lumpur is buzzing with vibrant, futuristic energy! Experience the city like never before at Malaysia’s inaugural Augmented Reality Festival (AR Fest KL), where urban creativity and digital innovation have come together.
Running until Nov 30, the festival spans 10 locations across KL – including Jalan Sultan, Lorong Panggung, Jalan Petaling, and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee – each transformed into a dynamic blend of art and technology. If you enjoy walking around the city, the interactive digital layers will be a delight, breathing new life into murals and landmarks, transforming the streets into an immersive playground and offering a fresh take on familiar sights.
“The word ‘reimagine’ is key – it’s about taking the art we already love and transforming it through augmented reality,” said Fariz Hanapiah, creative director of Experiential Design Team and founder of AR Fest KL, during the recent launch.
“We strongly believe that extended realities, especially AR, have the potential to unlock new, immersive experiences. Imagine a future where untold stories of KL are brought to life through AR animations, and you can explore the city with AR glasses. That day is coming – we just need to wait for the hardware to catch up, and KL will be ready!” he added.
The festival is divided into four parts: StreetARt, where everyday murals transform into interactive canvases through AR; ARca, featuring larger-than-life digital sculptures – like a Wau Bulan or a Perodua Kancil – roaming across your phone screen; ARtworks, a collaboration with the National Art Gallery, where five iconic artworks are enhanced with interactive elements; and CheritAR, offering animated storytelling at three historical landmarks (Sultan Abdul Samad Building, National Textile Museum and Victoria Fountain), where visitors can engage with captivating tales from the city’s past.
The AR experiences featured in StreetARt and ARca were crafted by a group of digital artists, creative technologists, lecturers, and students from local universities. These creators were chosen through an open call held in July.
Digital wonderland
One of the murals brought to life through AR is Chan Kok Sing's The Kid Playing Marble at Kwai Chai Hong, Jalan Panggong in KL.
Completed in 2018 by the Raub, Pahang-based artist, the mural captures the essence of everyday life in Petaling Street during the 1960s and 1970s, serving as both a tribute and a blueprint to the era’s vibrant community.
“I believe the combination of murals and AR is incredibly innovative and will resonate with the younger generation,” said Chan. “The AR technology added music and animation to my mural, featuring a moving fan and sunlight streaming in, which recreates scenes from my childhood home. It truly brings a whole new experience to the artwork,” he added.
The AR enhancement of the mural was created by Seeing Artelier, a motion design duo consisting of Wong Si Ying and Chia Yuan Hong. They spent two weeks crafting a nostalgic scene that brings the artwork to life.
A glimpse of the 'ARca' art series at The Starhill in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AR Fest KL
“We consulted some family members for pictures of old kampung houses to use as references for our design,” said the Seeing Artelier duo, who prefer to answer as a collective.
“As visitors look through the AR lens, they’ll be able to see the interior of the house, while the mural itself only shows a window.”
The AR mural also features the nostalgic tune Yuet Guong Guong (Shiny Moon), a Cantonese classic, celebrating childhood and the Mooncake Festival.
“This was our first time attempting to merge AR technology with mural art, and we can see it's something that can bridge the gap between different generations. As our resources continue to grow, we hope that this type of art will be able to be accessible to more (Malaysian) cities,” they concluded.
AR Fest KL is a collaboration with Experiential Design Team, with support from Studio Behind 90, Evertreasure, Think City, DBKL, Filamen, GMBB, Immerse KL by MDEC, Inworld, KLIF, Kreatif KL Festival, Kwai Chai Hong, the National Art Gallery, REXKL, and The Starhill.
