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.

The Trishaw man

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
  

  Cannon Hole, one of the most photographed Georgetown Penang steel sculptures

  

  The most fierce of Georgetown Penang steel sculptures

  

  The most poignant of Georgetown Penang steel sculptures

  

  These life-sized Georgetown Penang steel art sculptures depict the local life

  

  The beginning of the Georgetown Penang street art

   

  

  Source – Time Turtle

  

  Source – Time Turtle

  

  Source – Time Turtle

  

  Source – Time Turtle

  

  Source – Time Turtle

  

  Source – Time Turtle

  

  Source – Time Turtle

  

  Source – Time Turtle

   

  

  Jimmy Choo sculpture Source – Penang Happenings 

  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 svetlanabaghawan@yahoo.com and we can take it from there.

  Follow the rest of the street art series

  • STREET ART IN COLOGNE
  • STREET ART IN SINGAPORE
  • KOCHI STREET ART
  • STREET ART IN DELHI
  • STREET ART IN CAIRO
  • STREET ART IN FAYYOUM IN EGYPT
  • STREET ART IN DAHAB
  • STREET ART IN MUMBAI
  • ZAGREB STREET ART
  • BANGALORE STREET ART
  • BRUSSELS STREET ART
  • STREET ART IN TWO AMERICAN CITIES
  • GHENT STREET ART
  • BERLIN STREET ART
  • BERLIN URBAN ART PHOTO ESSAY
  • GEORGETOWN PENANG STREET ART

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