Following Stranger Things Season 4’s arrival on Netflix, the streaming channel transformed Kuala Lumpur into the Upside Down.  Blurring the line between reality and fiction, Netflix’s #BalikKeTerbalik experience brought elements of the hit science fiction show to the capital city.

To help re-create the elements of the award-winning sci-fi drama series, Netflix tapped two local creators to bring Stranger Things to Malaysians.

Art Meets Fiction

Street artist Amir Andhar and illustrator Lyn-Hui Ong were roped in to lend their talents in promoting the fourth season of the hit series. Malacca-born artist Amir was tasked to create an impressive mural wall at Kwai Chai Hong. His efforts took over a month to complete but the result of it was certainly insta-worthy.

The full-time street artist and graduate from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) created scenes from Stranger Things for this mural. For fans it was an opportunity to see Kuala Lumpur embrace some elements of the Upside Down from the hit show. Amir’s mural was on display at Kwai Chai Hong until 12 June.

Additionally, the iconic KL Tower was also ‘taken over’ by Netflix as part of the Stranger Things promo. The Kuala Lumpur landmark was one of 14, which serve as a canvas for the Upside Down projection show. At sundown, the tower was light up with scenes from the show along with various on-site promotional activities and installations.

But it wasn’t just about injecting Stranger Things into the capital city. Penang-based illustrator Lyn-Hui Ong was tasked with creating Instagram Story stickers for Malaysians. With fan-favourite Stranger Things characters as inspiration, Lyn-Hui created a series of stickers, which users could use on Instagram.

This isn’t the first time Lyn-Hui has collaborated with Netflix. In 2019, the Malaysian illustrator was handpicked among 18 artists from around the world for the #StrangerRewind art project.

Stranger Things 4: Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix, while Volume 2 will premiere on 1 July 2022.

(Images: Netflix)