This Malaysian Once Worked in the Skies, Now He Creates Balloon Art That’s Inspiring Artists Worldwide

For many people, balloons are simply decorations. While some have the skill to twist colourful latex into fun shapes like animals and flowers, one Malaysian man has taken balloon art to an entirely different level, transforming ordinary balloons into elegant works of art that have earned international recognition.

Meet Abang Belon

Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily

Syed Shahrizal Syed Othman, 45, spent 16 years working thousands of feet above the ground as a Chief Steward. Having been based in countries such as Algeria and Venezuela, as well as the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, his career in aviation broadened his horizons and exposed him to cultures from around the world.

It was during his time overseas that he first discovered balloon artistry. According to him, what initially attracted him was the creativity behind the designs and colours. He was fascinated by how something as simple as a balloon could be transformed into a modern, visually striking piece of art.

"Most people imagine a balloon as just a round shape, but balloons come in many sizes, shapes and types. When you combine them creatively, they can become flowers, sculptures and large installations. That is what made me see balloons as a form of art."

Syed Shahrizal admitted he never planned to leave the aviation industry. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, many airline employees found themselves grounded. It was during this period that he began exploring other ways to earn a living.

Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily

Before fully committing to balloon artistry, Syed Shahrizal also ventured into baking through a part-time business called Cakewhat. Over time, he noticed a growing number of customers requesting balloons to accompany their cakes and gifts.

"I realised balloons gave me more creative possibilities, better profit margins and a much wider market, from birthdays to weddings and corporate events. That was when balloons slowly became the main business."

From self-taught artist to balloon design specialist

Mastering the art of balloon sculpting was a gradual process for Syed Shahrizal, who took every opportunity to learn, practise and experiment.

Originally from Ipoh, Perak, the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam mechanical engineering graduate honed his skills through international online classes, physical workshops and self-learning. He also spent countless hours observing other artists, studying their techniques and adapting them into his own unique style.

Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily

Syed Shahrizal chose to specialise in floral balloon installations, believing they offer a fresh take on balloon art while also reflecting a growing global trend.

One of his TikTok videos featuring balloon flowers has amassed nearly 19.8 million views, proving the concept resonates strongly with audiences.

When asked to describe his artistic style, Syed Shahrizal, better known as Abang Belon, summed it up in three words: bold, floral and elegant.

"I love using large balloon flowers, strong colour combinations and statement pieces. My Signature 3D Balloon Flowers have become an important part of the Abang Belon identity," he shared.

"Floral balloon designs also make an event look more exclusive and premium, which is why many corporate clients approach us for this style."

Like many creative professionals, Syed Shahrizal draws inspiration from content he discovers online. He also finds creative influence in international artists, flowers, fashion and colour combinations.

Global recognition

After years of learning, experimenting and refining his craft, Syed Shahrizal's efforts began attracting attention beyond Malaysia's borders.

His work eventually caught the attention of international balloon brand Kalisan, marking a major milestone for both him and the Abang Belon brand. The recognition demonstrated that creative work produced in Malaysia can earn global acclaim.

Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily

As if that were not impressive enough, his work has also become a source of inspiration for balloon artists around the world.

"It was a very proud moment. I started by learning from international artists, so seeing them from other countries now looking at my work for inspiration is very meaningful and motivates me to keep improving."

Behind the viral two-storey balloon flower installation

One of Syed Shahrizal's most talked-about creations, both locally and internationally, is his giant two-storey balloon flower installation.

According to him, the project was completed in collaboration with 20 of his former students. The installation took around six hours to build and required approximately 4,000 balloons.

Image Credit: Abang Belon (Image provided to Rojak Daily)

"For this project, the installation was created for the official launch of Kalisan in Malaysia, so I wanted to create something that people had never seen before," he explained.

"It was a very special project because it combined creativity, teamwork and scale. It really showed that balloon art can go beyond traditional event decoration."

The process of creating a large-scale balloon flower installation begins with determining the theme, venue and colour palette. Once those elements are finalised, Syed Shahrizal carefully plans the size, structure and placement of each flower before preparing the individual components and assembling everything on-site.

According to him, proportion and balance are among the most important factors to consider when designing large installations.

Sharing knowledge of balloon artistry

Besides creating balloon art under the Abang Belon brand, Syed Shahrizal is also passionate about teaching others.

Throughout his more than decade-long career, he has conducted 65 classes, including training programmes for government agencies such as KEMAS and the Department of Youth and Sports.

To date, Syed Shahrizal has trained more than 3,000 students from Malaysia and other countries, including Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily

He also revealed that he has been invited to conduct a workshop in Dubai this October, although discussions are still ongoing.

"Many people kept asking me how I created my decorations and balloon flowers, and that inspired me to start teaching and sharing my knowledge with others. My goal is to continue sharing this skill and help more people turn their creativity into a business opportunity."

Syed Shahrizal said his workshops are designed to be hands-on and beginner-friendly. Participants learn the fundamentals of balloon artistry, including the tools used, colour combinations, balloon garlands, floral designs and practical installation techniques.

"Balloon artistry is both a creative skill and a serious business."

He explained that many people assume balloon decoration simply involves inflating balloons and putting them together. In reality, the craft requires a wide range of skills and considerations.

For him, balloon artistry goes far beyond creativity. It involves design, colour, sizing, structure, technique, costing and installation.

Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily

One of the biggest challenges he faces is the constant need to innovate.

"Trends change quickly, so I constantly have to experiment, improve and make sure the design is not only beautiful but also practical and safe."

Despite the challenges, Syed Shahrizal said seeing his balloon flower designs gain recognition beyond Malaysia makes all the hard work worthwhile. Moments like these have made him realise just how far a passion project that began as a side business can grow.

Hopes for balloon artistry to be recognised as a professional creative industry

Today, Abang Belon is a recognised name within the global balloon art community. However, Syed Shahrizal hopes to take the brand beyond decoration by focusing more on education, training and the development of new balloon techniques.

He also aims to bring his workshops to more countries and continue expanding his Signature 3D Balloon Flower concept internationally.

Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily

Looking ahead, Syed Shahrizal hopes balloon artistry will one day be recognised as a professional creative industry in Malaysia rather than being viewed solely as party decoration.

"I also hope more Malaysian balloon artists can develop their own unique styles and gain international recognition."

Those interested in seeing more of Abang Belon's creations or learning balloon artistry can follow him on Instagram and TikTok, where he regularly shares his latest works, tutorials and behind-the-scenes content.

Featured Image Credit: Image provided to Rojak Daily