My Facebook page has been flooded with photos of George Town’s street art for this entire year. Curiosity stoked, Darren and I decided it was time for us to do our own interpretations of George Town’s famous street art. You can be sure they will be quite atypical ;)
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-JOFuOU.jpeg)
Best way to go on a street art trail – rent a bicycle. We got ours for only RM8 for an entire day!
It was only recently that Penang’s street art stared to generate quite a buzz on social networks from Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic’s series of murals painted during Mirrors George Town for George Town Festival 2012. What is not widely-known is that the seed to plant art in George Town started back in 2009 when Kuala Lumpur-based art company Sculpture at Work won the Penang state government’s commissioned art challenge ‘Marking George Town: An Idea Competition for UNESCO World Heritage Site.’
Sculpture at Work proposed to tell stories of Penang inspired by their residents and culture through 52 steel rod caricatures place all over George Town. Together with the wall murals, they caught the world’s attention and tourists started flocking to Penang for another reason – other than its food.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-UEdZOH.jpeg)
Every Penangnite wants a piece of the tourism business. Shops such as this clothing store rent out bicycles to tourists, and have their own ‘street art’ outside their shops to attract business.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-nRLJgS.jpeg)
Here we go on our street art exploration!
First, to find the famous murals painted by Ernest Zacharevic…
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-MWLTF1.jpeg)
The Trishaw
Jalan Penang
When Darren stopped in front, I kept asking “Where? Where?” Until I raised up my head. Silly me.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-zJn1cs.jpeg)
Kungfu Girl (no, not the one in sunglasses)
Lebuh Muntri
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-lb9sSL.jpeg)
Boy on Chair
Lebuh Cannon
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-6UgLfY.jpeg)
When visiting during weekends, be prepared to queue for your turn to take a photo
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-0ZOU6B.jpeg)
Little Children on a Bicycle (yes, all 3 children)
Lebuh Armenian
This would easily be the most popular mural of his series
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-Wicaen.jpeg)
Cycling – a great way to see the city. Do it together on a double bike!
While Ernest Zacharevic started the street art faze, other Malaysian artists have also started to leave their mark around the heritage town, such as 101 Lost Kittens.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-bUrgrs.jpeg)
Skippy to Penang for animal awareness (by 101 Lost Kittens)
Gat Lebuh Armenian
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-5rW1Az.jpeg)
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-3e592f.jpeg)
It looks like the cat and the rat have been painted by two different artists. The one who drew the rat obviously has a wry sense of humour!
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-WfaPxb.jpeg)
Love me like your fortune cat
Gat Lebuh Armenian
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-SuV1C8.jpeg)
While we usually back away if we see people gathering in back lanes, in Penang we go towards it. Because there’s likely to be a street mural.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-bFABI8.jpeg)
The real Bruce Lee would never do this
Lebuh Ah Quee
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-fS0Rzn.jpeg)
I can help catch rats
Lebuh Armenian
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-EE5y1N.jpeg)
Scent-sational
Not much is known about this unnamed artist. I sure had a good time with this mural!
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-VAX3wP.jpeg)
Rob me Rob me – no money, got honey!
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-ntY4y0.jpeg)
Art defaced
This used to be half the face of a Chinese opera singer, and half skeleton. It has since been destroyed. Many people ask the question – what if street art gets vandalized? I think it’s is just part of its natural evolution; created from inspiration, added on to over time, faded with memories and then something new will sprout up signifying the rebirth of yet another cultural expression.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-DdtW6c.jpeg)
Magic
Lebuh Armenian
Super vainpot :D
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-Xfa2De.jpeg)
Grandma & Grandson
Entrance of Chew Jetty
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-cmlQA5.jpeg)
Lebuh Armenian
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-_qxU3l.jpeg)
Lion dance mural found outside a shop
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-2D1BsD.jpeg)
Peek-a-boo!
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-IgJgOY.jpeg)
Minion Invasion. They are everywhere in the streets.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-xjJjNO.jpeg)
Minions
Lorong Soo Hong
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-Wo1Z5W.jpeg)
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-LgxNQ4.jpeg)
Fatt Choy Minion?
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-_uxrit.jpeg)
Stylo-mylo
Did you know the streets of George Town were named after its trades, people and events? Learn about how each street got its name through the 52 steel rod sculptures placed all over the city which were inspired by Penangites going about their daily chores.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-o90zZ3.jpeg)
Procession
Lebuh Armenian
The Tua Pek Kong Hneoh Grand Float Procession is held in the Year of the Tiger to wash away bad luck and bring great wealth and health.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-xe5evV.jpeg)
Cannon Hole
Lebuh Cannon
A cannon shot fired during the 1867 Penang Riots made a large hole in this area, hence the name.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-lMz0Mw.jpeg)
Quiet Please
Lebuh Gereja
To the dismay of parishioners of the Portugese church there, Church Street also housed the headquarters of the notorious Ghee Hin secret society.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-RbrSIh.jpeg)
Ah Quee?
Lebuh Ah Quee
The street is named after Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee who generously donated this house to the Municipality for vehicular access, ensuring that his name lives on for posterity.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-Jx4kAM.jpeg)
Budget Hotels
Lebuh Chulia
At the turn of the last century, many shophouses were turned into cheap hotels, making this internationally-known tourist strip very popular with backpackers.
My favourites happen to be drawn by a young non-commissioned Malaysian artist Louis Gan:
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-biakJI.jpeg)
Two children playing basketball
Lebuh Gat Chulia
Very cute shot, and an extremely happy family.
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-D2oyB6.jpeg)
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-L37vKf.jpeg)
Brother and sister on a swing
Lebuh Gat Chulia
Louis depicts childhood in Penang through a mural of a brother and sister balancing on a swing
![Penang – An Alternative Guide to George Town’s Street Art Penang - Street Art in Georgetown](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/74/748552/penang-an-alternative-guide-to-george-towns-s-L-u4Kx6D.jpeg)
Unleasing the Inner Child in me
I think it’s a wonderful idea and meaningful art/heritage trail for every visitor to Penang to embark on. I enjoyed my ride on wheels around the city, venturing along small laneways and hidden alleys in search of art. And Darren’s company was icing on the cake – he was great with the map and way -finding!
Street Art Maps
Street Art Map
Best map I have seen from Timeout Penang
Learn more about the 52 steel rod sculptures
Mural Map iphone app
You will not need to print the maps out; simply get a street art brochure when you arrive at the airport or from your hotel. Have fun :)
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