The street art of Asia is playful, creative, and fun. This is the fifth and final in the collaborative series of Street Art Around the World. The first shot is my own; the others were taken by top travel bloggers.
I found the street art of Asia to be the most unique of the collections Have a look and see if you agree:
Street Art of Asia
This car made an unusual canvas for street art in historical Bastakiya in Dubai. I took this shot a few years ago and wonder if this car is still there.
See more at Bastakiya and the Old Souqs in Dubai.
The famous ‘I Want Pau’ kids of George Town are probably gracing many a family album and Instagram account as they are as iconic as they come when it comes to Penang’s street art. But this arty gem has a bit of family history. In fact, these two cheeky kids grace the outer wall of the Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop on Armenian Street. The children are the son and daughter of the pastry shop’s owner and the mural was painted by family friend WK Setor, who named the painting ‘Childhood’. The mural was completed on Chinese New Year, 2014 and is more commonly referred to as the ‘I Want Pau’ Mural.
Photo contributed by Vanessa Workman of The Island Drum.
Seoul is such a great city for contemporary art. The Bukchon neighbourhood, located just beside the traditional Hanok Village is full of little galleries, creative spaces and street art. This huge mural was particularly impressive. The colours are gorgeous, and the girl’s gaze is fierce yet soft.
Photo contributed by Catherine Benoit of The Go Fever.
We found this amazing street art in Seremban, a small town in Malaysia that is forgotten by the tourists. We love it! It shows the cultural diversity of this country. Malay Muslim girl, Hindu boy and Chinese immigrants, sitting together on the magic carpet and having fun. One painting show more than thousand words. Love, tolerance and acceptance are the clues to happiness not only in Malaysia but in any other country in the world.
Photo contributed by Karolina of Karolina and Patryk.
The Hindu god Ganesh.
Photo contributed by Shyr Gelber, a traveller and co-founder of Forty Thieves, the fantastic nut butter company we sampled at the Food Show.
There is a deluge of street art scattered throughout Chiang Mai, Thailand. I am a huge fan of street art and have been tracking it down all over the globe.
Photo contributed by Matthew of Travelationship.
Street art in Taipei, Taiwan is taken to a new level. While often subtle and unobtrusive, it can be seen in many forms, on many surfaces, throughout the city. From walls to electrical boxes, even on steps, the city truly is a canvass on which artists may ply their trade.
Photo contributed by Carolann & Macrae of One Modern Couple.
Another example in Taiwan, this one painted by Alex Face.
Photo contributed by Carolann & Macrae of One Modern Couple.
Another photo contributed by Shyr Gelber of Forty Thieves.
Tiong Bahru
Photo contributed by Mar Pages of Once in a Lifetime Journey.
Mural “Big mouth” or “The bearded face” was painted by British artist Gabriel Pitcher in conjunction with the “Different Strokes” street art festival in Penang. You can find it in Muntri Street (beside Ryokan Muntri Boutique hostel), George Town, Penang island, Malaysia.
Photo contributed by Ria of Life in Big Tent. See more at: Disappearing and resurgent street art in Penang.
Boeung Kak, the former lakeside area in Phnom Penh, was once a hub of activity for locals and travellers. The government sold off the land in 2007, and tragically the lake was filled in, destroying the natural beauty of the area. Hundreds of local families were displaced and thousands of people, who depended on income from fishing in the lake and who owned businesses in the area, were out of work. In the past few years, Boeung Kak has transformed into a thriving art scene, with local artists, expats and visitors looking to beautify the neighbourhoods and create opportunities and outlets for youth and the arts in the city. It is well worth visiting the area to see the unique, constantly changing street art, and to glimpse a side of Phnom Penh few travellers experience.
Photo contributed by Jen Joslin of Two Can Travel
The Street Around the World series includes:
Five World Regions
Two Artistic Expressions
Of the five collections, this is the one I found most intriguing. How about you, were you surprised by these examples of the street art of Asia?
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Lisa Dorenfest
December 10, 2016 at 3:05 pmYou’ve gotten me very excited to see the street art in this part of the world. Have enjoyed finding street art on my sailing travels from Hawaii to Indonesia and recent arrived in Malaysia. Heading to Penang at the end of the month and will be on the look out for the two murals posted here.
Rhonda Albom
December 10, 2016 at 5:44 pmThere is some amazing street art in Asia.
Claudya Martinez
August 29, 2016 at 2:23 pmBravo to all the contributors, what a wonderful collection of images.
Rhonda Albom
August 30, 2016 at 10:02 amI was pretty pleased with it as well.
Oakland Daily Photo
August 24, 2016 at 4:48 pmIf there was ever a doubt, your post has ended it: street art is a global phenomenon.
Rhonda Albom
August 25, 2016 at 8:48 amI hope you checked out the rest of the series. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:01 amI wish they were all my shots.
Patrick Weseman
August 24, 2016 at 2:41 amThose photos are so cool and interesting. I love the one one the stairs.
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:13 amI would love to see the one on the stairs. Also, credit to the photographer on that one, as taken on a different angle it would have a different effect.
Teresa Kindred
August 24, 2016 at 2:23 amYou find the “coolest” stuff! I love all these. The big open mouth one and the car are my favs!
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:12 amThanks Teresa, only I can only take credit for finding the car, the rest were found by other travel bloggers.
Jackie
August 24, 2016 at 12:43 amI post street art from our travels every Monday at Monday Murals. http://oaklanddailyphoto.blogspot.ca/
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:11 amCool. I will be sure to check it out. I love street art.
Vanessa Workman
August 23, 2016 at 11:35 pmGreat piece! Funny you should ask, because I was surprised by the eclectic selections. These are art works I’ve not seen before in other street art write ups. I’ve never seen that bearded guy in Penang either! I only just saw those I Want Pau kids just a few months ago and I’ve been in Malaysia 12 years. 😀
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:10 amI was really impressed with the choices people made to contribute. This collection really makes me want to visit S.E.A. soon.
Matt
August 23, 2016 at 9:28 pmThank you so much for including our submission in your post. It’s a great list of some beautiful art.
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:07 amThanks for contributing. 🙂
Ria (@lifeinbigtent)
August 23, 2016 at 8:49 pmlove it! to see all those murals all around the world 🙂 Just came back again from Penang in Malaysia and found many other murals 🙂 But I know still left few to discover and see 🙂
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:07 amActually, it is the street art that I keep seeing photos of that is attracting me to Penang. I have never been.
Johanna Bradley
August 23, 2016 at 8:18 pmGreat fun! I like the steps and that car would look great sitting on our drive. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:06 amLOL – I don’t think they drive that car, look at the tyres.
Catherine
August 23, 2016 at 2:32 pmWow, these look amazing! Thanks for including me 🙂
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:03 amI agree, it’s a pretty impressive collection. Thanks for participating.
Photo Cache
August 23, 2016 at 11:23 amWonderful collection. More to come I hope.
Rhonda Albom
August 24, 2016 at 10:01 amThis is the last in this series, but I have a few other interesting ideas for the future.
Cascia Talbert
August 23, 2016 at 7:20 amThat artwork is amazing. I love all of it.
Rhonda Albom
August 23, 2016 at 9:14 amI am a huge fan of street art, and find this collection to be a bit different than the others around the world.
Pat
August 23, 2016 at 4:52 amWhat interesting murals! I had to look at some of them a couple times to realize what I thought was real was really painted.
Rhonda Albom
August 23, 2016 at 9:14 amLOL – me too when they were submitted for the article.
Indah nuria
August 22, 2016 at 10:57 pmThey look lovely, Rhonda. I was wondering whether you have some from Indonesia. We have a lot of artistic murals back home 🙂
Rhonda Albom
August 23, 2016 at 9:12 amThis is all that was submitted, and I have not yet been to Indonesia.
Comedy Plus
August 22, 2016 at 2:35 amThey are all cool, but I like the car the best too.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
August 22, 2016 at 9:01 amI am biased towards the car, as it is the only one I actually saw live.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
August 22, 2016 at 12:31 amSuch a variety. I wonder how many do a double take on those two kids, thinking they are real. And the steps with the couch is amazing.
Rhonda Albom
August 22, 2016 at 9:00 amI know I did when I was first sent the photo.
Neha
August 22, 2016 at 12:05 amInteresting! Loved the photos.
Rhonda Albom
August 22, 2016 at 9:00 amThanks Neha.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
August 21, 2016 at 11:15 pmI love the cat on the couch one – and the car of course.
Rhonda Albom
August 22, 2016 at 9:00 amThat car was a pretty cool find in Dubai, way out of character for the city. The stairs are just so cool.
Glen - Crazy Old Lady
August 21, 2016 at 8:22 pmLove the artwork.
Rhonda Albom
August 22, 2016 at 8:59 amThanks Glen.
Joyce Lansky
August 21, 2016 at 1:14 pmVery cool art work! I love the car and the couch on the stairs the best.
Rhonda Albom
August 22, 2016 at 8:57 amI was pretty impressed when I saw that car in Dubai. That couch is awesome, I would love to see that some day myself.
Kreete
August 21, 2016 at 12:06 pmWow, I love these photos! I love taking photos of street art myself and I must say, this is an impressive collection! Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
August 22, 2016 at 8:56 amThanks Kreete, there are so many wonderful travel bloggers with great eyes for spotting these things.