Padungan’s perennial portrait: Grandfather’s memory eternalised in shop wall mural

The Liang Teh mural depicting the image of Nolan's grandfather, Chang Eng Chuan on Huan Loke Cafe's shop wall at Padungan area. Photo taken on July 5, 2024.

By Marlynda Meraw

KUCHING, July 5: For Nolan Chang and his family, the famous ‘Liang Teh’ (herbal tea) mural in Padungan serves as more than just a tourist attraction; it is an enduring memory of his late grandfather, Chang Eng Chuan, whose face is depicted in the painting.

During an interview with DayakDaily about the mural, 45-year-old Nolan shared that the person in the painting was in fact his grandfather, who was the former owner of the traditional herbal tea shophouse named Khee Hiang.

For Nolan, seeing his grandfather’s image on the mural is deeply gratifying, as it preserves a cherished memory to be shared with anyone who views it.

He mentioned that his family was approached by the mayor of the Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Dato Wee Hong Seng, regarding the Padungan mural project, and was later contacted by self-taught mural artist Leonard Siaw for inspiration on the painting.

“We (family) provided him (Siaw) with photos of my grandfather, but none was suitable to capture the essence of Liang Teh.

“Since we don’t have a photo of him (grandfather) making the Liang Teh, so in the end, my father modelled the action of pouring the tea. The same pose as the one you saw in the mural,” said Nolan to DayakDaily.

Initially, Nolan said that Siaw had hesitated to paint Eng Chuan’s face over Nolan’s father, Chang Chuan Heng, concerned that the final portrait might not accurately capture his grandfather’s likeness.

“But we (family) insisted (to have my grandfather’s face painted) on the wall. We were very impressed because the painting really looks like him,” Nolan said with a smile.

Established in 1946, Khee Hiang was later succeeded by Nolan’s father, 72-year-old Chang Chuan Heng. Despite Nolan’s prior studies in information technology (IT), he decided to assist his father with the business after his mother passed away.

Nolan’s father, Chuan Heng (left) serving a customer.

Khee Hiang, meaning ‘distinctive fragrance’ is currently managed by both Nolan and his father.

When DayakDaily asked why the shop was named Khee Hiang, Nolan explained that it was because the traditional herbal tea shophouse had previously been a food manufacturing store.

“We manufactured coffee powder, chili powder, and all the sorts. Anything that has a strong, distinctive smell. That’s why it’s named ‘Khee Hiang’.

“My grandfather even briefly had a coffee brand of his own, ‘Kopi Cap Professor’,” he said.

In addition to herbal teas, Khee Hiang also sells ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine. Customers can visit to enjoy the herbal tea, priced at RM2 per cup for drinking in and RM4 for takeaways.

Special Liang Teh serving cups with a photo of Eng Chuan on the glass.

Khee Hiang, the traditional herbal tea shop formerly owned by Eng Chuan,

DayakDaily also interviewed the owner of Huan Loke Café, 57-year-old Ho, whose store wall serves as the canvas for the Liang Teh mural.

Ho echoed similar sentiments about the mural, believing it offers a much better aesthetic than having advertisement banners placed on the wall.

“People don’t take photos of advertisement banners, but this (Liang Teh mural) attracts people’s attention. The tourists would stop by, admire it, and even take photos,” he said. –DayakDaily

Huan Loke Cafe, owned by Ho; whose store wall serves as a canvas of the Liang Teh mural painted by Siaw.