Blacksmiths of Padungan

Historical Period: 1950s

Location: 6, Lorong 6, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak

Artist: Leonard Siaw

Date Finished: 12 February 2026

Background of the Mural:

This mural shows everyday life in Kuching during the 1950s, focusing on a blacksmith at work. Known locally as a kuli, the blacksmith worked with hot steel, using a hammer to shape it into useful tools. His work was hard and required strength, focus and patience.

The mural gives us a sense of the heat and sounds of the blacksmith’s workplace. We can imagine the sound of metal being hit, the hot glow of the fire, and the continuous movement of the blacksmith working with his hands.

Blacksmiths played an important role in the community. They repaired broken items and made tools that people needed in their daily lives. Their skills helped support a town where many people depended on manual labour and traditional craftsmanship.

Instead of showing a famous historical event, this mural focuses on the ordinary workers who helped build Kuching through their daily efforts. The blacksmith represents many hardworking people whose contributions were often unnoticed but were important to the community.

The mural reminds us that progress does not happen overnight. It is built through hard work, patience and continuous effort, just like how a blacksmith slowly shapes a piece of metal into something useful.