Poetic Spring Garden at Kwai Chai Hong
With Chinese New Year drawing near, you’ve probably already been shopping for new fits. But if your relatives’ front gate has been the backdrop for your festive OOTD shots two years in a row now, you might want to level up your snaps by hunting out aesthetic photo spots to properly show off your outfit.
In KL, Kwai Chai Hong is a great place to be for the upcoming festive holiday. The gorgeous back alley has a new eclectic art installation themed “Poetic Spring Garden” on display from now till 12th February 2023. Here, you’ll find banners of Chinese calligraphy artworks, as well as oversized blossoms and foliage perfect for the ‘Gram.
Step into a festive spring garden
Your neighbourhood Chinatown is a no-brainer location for Chinese New Year OOTD shots. This year, there’s even more reasons for Klang Valley folks to head to Petaling Street, as Kwai Chai Hong has a new pop-up art installation for this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
The not-so-secret alley behind Petaling Street in Chinatown KL has been given a vibrant and festive makeover for their latest art installation. Visitors can drop by to marvel at elaborate Chinese New Year-inspired decorations beyond just the usual red hanging lanterns and scarlet drapes this year.
Collectively themed “Poetic Spring Garden”, the art installation, complete with festive decorations, will be displayed from 6th January to 12th February, and opens daily from 9AM to 12AM.
While strolling through the alley, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into an enchanting spring garden. Experience beautiful artworks and exotic vivid visuals in the form of massive blossoms that adorn the “garden” abundantly – this is a nod to the burgeoning Spring and its sceneries that signify the start of Chinese New Year.
While the installation opens from early morning till midnight, we recommend heading there after 5pm – the installation is most stunning during the evening and at night, when the decor pieces such as a butterfly and lanterns light up.
Calligraphy artworks by a local artist
Taking centre stage at the alley is an artwork in collaboration with local artist Jaemy C, who is known for uniquely reimagining Chinese brush calligraphy in his art pieces.
Besides the eye-catching flowers, his “Wet Hot Spring Thing” art installation is a highlight. It comprises an intriguing twist behind the traditional bold strokes of Chinese characters on a crimson red canvas – English alphabets spell out “Jom, let’s party”, but are made to look like Chinese characters.
A message from the artist – stretch your imagination and tease your mind to decipher the hidden messages behind his calligraphy artworks.
Kwai Chai Hong has a new “Poetic Spring Garden” installation
Don your new CNY fits and start the bai nian season at this Poetic Spring Garden in Kwai Chai Hong, where blooms, lanterns, and art are abundant. Not only will you have multiple blazing backdrops for the ‘Gram, you’ll be able to experience and appreciate the Chinese art form, culture and its festive symbolisms in a landscape of poetic beauty.
Also watch our video here:
Venue: Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Date: 6th January to 12th February 2023
Time: 9am-12am
Admission: Free
Read more interesting features of places here:
- Straits & Oriental Museum in Penang has over 250 ancient ceramics
- Tim Burton exhibition to open in KL on 21st March
- MinNature, museum in KL mall that has mini displays M’sian buildings and food
Photography by Hans Leong & Dennis Kong.
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia