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A Village Painted in Colour

A few years ago, the hillside village of Karangsari was known mainly for its crowded houses and narrow, gloomy alleys. Today, visitors arrive from other cities to walk through a village that looks like an open-air gallery. Every wall, staircase, and even rooftop has been painted in bright colours.

The change started when a group of art students asked the residents for permission to paint the wall of a small mosque. The result was so cheerful that neighbours volunteered their own walls. Soon, more than two hundred houses were decorated with pictures of fish, flowers, kites, and traditional dancers. A long staircase is painted to look like a rainbow, and visitors enjoy taking photographs on every step.

The mural village has brought clear benefits. Many residents now sell snacks, souvenirs, and cold drinks, and a few have opened small homestays. The village head says that income from visitors has paid for new street lamps and a clean-water tank. Children also help as young guides, explaining the meaning of the pictures to visitors.

However, the new popularity brings problems. During holidays, the alleys become so crowded that residents find it difficult to leave their homes. Some visitors leave rubbish or write their names on freshly painted walls. The village therefore has started to limit the number of tourists per day and to charge a small entrance fee, which is used for cleaning and repainting.

What does the phrase "an open-air gallery" suggest about the village?