For the artistic soul, Penang has a lot of eye-catching street art.
Beauty Amidst Chaos
In 2012, to rev up the excitement in Penang, Penang's municipal council hired Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist. to inject life into the historic city's streets, shop houses, restaurants, and guesthouses.
The project was not only done for artistic purposes, but also to remind local and tourists alike of the rich history of Penang. The artworks are found in different parts of the city such as Ah Quee Street, Armenian Street, Muntri Street, and others, at times in the most unlikely of places.
The immense popularity of the artwork created by Ernest led to many other artworks sprouting out of nowhere. Other artists and groups started to join in on the fun and started creating their own artwork for their causes or stories that they want to tell.
There were murals and paintings in the most unlikely of places, like dark alleys and areas where a lot of labor is done. Aren't construction workers, traders, shoemakers, and the like artists as well? They turn the most mundane of things like leather, concrete, bricks, and nails into buildings, the latest shoe fads, houses, and cars. Penang is home to renowned shoe designer, Jimmy Choo.
What caught my attention was how the artists combined actual objects with their murals and paintings. They combined their imaginations with concrete, finished objects that we normally take for granted.
The art on the streets not only depicted history, but also the way of life in Penang. Life may be simple for others, but it is part of a cohesive whole that keeps this country moving forward.
Wire in the Hole
Aside from the eye-catching murals, Penang is also home to different kinds of wire art.
The wire art depicted life in Penang.
Some of the steel-rod dioramas provided tidbits about Penang's history and culture.
The wire art also depicted the culture of particular streets. There was an appropriate piece of art, albeit funny, that depicted life of travelers in Penang and some of the locals in certain streets and corners.
I didn't see all of the artworks in Georgetown, but I liked the ones I managed to see. The art depicted the way of life, the history, and the culture of Penang.
