Georgetown Penang steel sculptures

Georgetown Penang’s urban art history is relatively young. It all started in 2008 when Georgetown received the prestigious title of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The title kicked off a beautification drive in the city and in 2009 the first art project called Making George Town was kicked off. This project included only cartoon steel rod sculptures that depicted the local lives of Georgetown residents in days gone by. Some of these Georgetown Penang steel art sculptures can still be found throughout the city today.

Georgetown Penang steel art sculptures

Many prominent artists have contributed to the Georgetown Penang steel art sculptures project and among them, the most famous local artist is called Tang Mun Kian. It was he who pitched the theme- ‘Voices of People’ which was a way of telling Penang’s history through the wit of its locales. Four artists, Baba Chuah, Julian “Lefty” Kam, Reggie Lee, and Tang Mun Kian contributed to giving Georgetown a new dimension with 52 steel art sculptures, and some of the very famous steel art pieces are as follows:

• Jimmy Choo – Crafted by Baba Chuah, Jimmy Choo is a steel artwork sculpture made to pay a tribute to famous shoe designer, Jimmy Choo who was originally from Penang. Location – Muntri Street, Buffer Zone, Georgetown
• Happy Hour – This one shows colonial life in the Malacca Straits in 1826. It depicts some administrative people smiling and enjoying their happy hour with a toast of drink. Location – Transfer Road/ Jalan Transfer, Buffer Zone, Georgetown
• Cannon Hole – This is my absolute favourite. It is also the most photographed art piece of Georgetown. Depicting a person falling into a cannon hole, this piece illustrates the riots of 1967 that happened on this street. Location – Cannon Street/Lebuh Cannon, Core Zone, Georgetown

  

  

  

  

  

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

  

  NOTE – “Writings on the Walls” is an ongoing series in which I hope to collate awesome street art from around the world. If you wish to collaborate, please email me at [email protected] and we can take it from there.

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