George Town on Penang Island in Malaysia is a fascinating city that every traveller exploring this part of Asia should visit. Here, you’ll find everything a tourist could wish for. The city boasts old Victorian buildings, remnants of the British colonial era. You’ll also discover Chinese temples, bustling bazaars, restaurants, and institutions run by the Chinese community, who have a significant presence in Malaysia’s commerce.
There are, of course, Hindu mandirs adorned with colourful deities and fierce gods fighting evil, serene Buddhist pagodas, and Muslim mosques where prayers echo in devotion. To top it all off, the city also features ultramodern office buildings and hotels.
Colourful Streets of Penang’s Capital Full of Murals and Art
As you can imagine, George Town on Penang Island is a vibrant melting pot of cultures, lively, noisy, and endlessly fascinating. The most surprising thing, however, is that you can see all these diverse places just by walking down a single street. But I won’t dwell on the charm of George Town today. Instead, I’ll focus on something that captivated me despite not being an art connoisseur – the stunning murals scattered throughout the city.
A City Full of Street Art
The city is brimming with street art, from grand murals to small, cleverly hidden drawings that playfully incorporate the imperfections of the surroundings. Beyond the wall art, my numerous urban explorations also uncovered sculptures and statues seamlessly integrated into the bustling city life.
Some streets are dedicated to specific artists and their styles. For example, the eastern part of the city is dominated by Chinese artists. Here, you’ll find amusing drawings tucked away in the city’s nooks and crannies. One particularly active artist involved in beautifying the city is Baba Chuah, who created fascinating wire sculptures that are both humorous and educational.
Hunting for these artworks is a great adventure, and it’s common to see people wandering the streets with a map in hand.
George Town in Malaysia on the UNESCO World Heritage List
In 2008, the entire city of George Town on Penang Island was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. To commemorate this extraordinary event, the city authorities launched a competition for a lasting art installation called “Marking George Town” to celebrate the city’s significant artistic heritage.
The competition was won by Sculpture At Work from Kuala Lumpur, who created a series of steel installations that humorously depict the city’s life in a comic strip format. They also invited other artists to join them with their ideas. The result is an amusing and intriguing collection worth exploring throughout the city’s streets.
The Art of Ernest Zacharevic
We particularly enjoyed the works of a young artist from Lithuania, Ernest Zacharevic, often referred to as the “Malaysian Banksy.” His most popular pieces in George Town are “Boy on Motorcycle” and “Children on Bicycle.”
Wrapping Up with Street Art
We found numerous fantastic pieces of street art on building walls, bridges, and factories, though we didn’t manage to see them all due to lack of time and the tempting distractions of local culinary delights. Wandering with a map, searching for street art, we frequently encountered food stalls and small shops offering delicious Chinese treats.
Sampling these delicacies often led us to abandon our art hunt, but that’s a story for another post.
You can find a map detailing most of the current street art in George Town at this link. The map is continuously updated, so if you manage to find all the artworks, be sure to let us know!
So there you have it – George Town is a city rich in history, culture, and art, a must-see destination for any traveller to Malaysia. Happy exploring!
George Town and Penang facts, Information, and Trivia
- Penang is both an island and a state in Malaysia.
- It lies just 120 kilometres from the Thai border, making it a great excursion if you’re vacationing nearby.
- Penang Island is connected to the mainland by a 13 kilometre bridge.
- The city of George Town is named after the British monarch, King George III.
- The city was founded by the British East India Company in 1786.
- It was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia.
- The city is entirely listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- George Town has a population of over 2 million people.
- Famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo was born on Penang Island in 1948.
- Penang is considered a paradise for culinary enthusiasts, blending the best of Indian and Chinese cuisines.
- Human presence on Penang Island dates back 6,000 years.
- The first map of Penang was created by Chinese captain Zheng He, who sailed for the Ming dynasty.
- Penang is one of the smallest states in Malaysia.
- On Penang, you can visit an impressive camera museum.
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