Mending the Tides of Time: Bang Liao fisherman village mural brings Kuching’s river past to life

"Mending the Tides of Time" mural by local artist Leonard Siaw at Padungan Street.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Feb 6: As part of Padungan’s centenary celebrations, the Bang Liao fisherman village mural stands out among the artworks along the historic street, showcasing the trades and daily life that shaped Kuching in its early days.

Titled “Mending the Tides of Time”, the mural by local artist Leonard Siaw captures Madam Chua, daughter of a fisherman, quietly repairing fishing nets, a task both essential and overlooked in daily life.

The scene captures the rhythm of the riverside community, where families laboured together to prepare boats, haul in catches, and mend nets along the riverbanks.

According to a post shared on Kuching South City Council (MBKS) social media, Bang Liao was once a Heng Hua fishing village along the Sarawak and Padungan rivers, where wooden boats lined the shores and life moved in harmony with the tides.

Though the village eventually relocated to what is now Bintawa in the late 1970s, its legacy lives on.

Madam Chua continues to operate her family shop, Chee Soon, in Padungan, linking the past and present through her enduring connection to the riverside community.

The mural honours the labour, patience, and dedication of those whose lives were shaped by the river.

As part of Padungan’s 100-year celebration, it reminds visitors of the trades, people, and stories that laid the foundation of Kuching city.

Mending the Tides of Time is one of several murals along Padungan that celebrate the city’s rich heritage, each capturing a slice of history that continues to resonate in the streets of modern Kuching. — DayakDaily