May Shaun – or Violet as she is also known – has inspired not only the residents in PJ’s SS2 district but herself with a project to create a giant-size mural in the neighbourhood. Called “Stay Under The Roof”, the huge and hugely intricate work of art, that took 8 days to complete, depicts the many facets of our colourful Malaysian culture living under one roof.
“I decided to take part in the “Bestnya Malaysiaku” SS2 Wall Art Competition jointly organised by the local council and Street Art Movement (SAM). My inspiration came from a Chinese brush painting depicting an elderly person sitting under a willow tree. Researching the artist’s work, I set about learning the drawing technique, mixing it with my own illustration style to arrive at a unique blend.
“When it came time to start the actual painting, the task was made even more challenging since the organiser was not able to provide a projector so I had to hand-draw the outline from my sketch onto the wall. The whole process took 8 days, working 8 hours a day, to complete. Coping with our tropical weather – both the heat and the rain – and hauling the heavy equipment around were just some of the challenges along the way. But my hope it that the painting will remind people about the 80’s lifestyle and encourage a greater appreciation of our heritage, our traditions and the arts!”