For Art's Sake - Penang Monthly

Imaginings of Nationhood: on “Negaraku”, a Collector’s Show by Bingley Sim and Ima Nurbinsha

6 min read

The exhibition “negaraku” may borrow its title from the anthem, but its version of the story hardly toes the line of official sources—each artwork offers its slice of truth, which, put together, forms a more complete picture.

by Yee Heng Yeh

Kopi Jackfruit Monkey—Feeling Life in George Town

3 min read

I HAVE ALWAYS loved two things in life: travel and art. Combining these, my wife and I have travelled the world, stopping in particularly inspiring locations li...

by Nigel Sense

Hussin Hourmain: Embedding Jawi Calligraphy in Contemporary Art

4 min read

Images by Core Design Gallery.HUSIN HOURMAIN, a 61-year-old contemporary Malaysian visual artist, is famed for his abstract expressionist works of contemporary...

by Nicole Chang

Sounds and Silence: Experimental Music Permeates Penang Spaces

8 min read

Photos by Shankar Laxminarayan and courtesy of Kamal Sabran.

by Liani MK

“The Islander Surge”: Exploring Cultural Uniqueness in Music

4 min read

An island’s cultural traditions and social contexts often render “islanders” with unique yet versatile identities. Hence, they are sometimes described as having...

by Pan Yi Chieh

Witness Collection: The Struggles that Span the Creation of Astonishing Art

5 min read

THE BLAME GAME often takes off when multiple stakeholders are involved. Let’s look at Penang’s art industry. One time, I wrote about the media’s role in promoti...

by Rachel Yeoh

Readings@Tanjong: Experiential Waves of Stories and Poetry

5 min read

READINGS@TANJONG was established in 2023 as a bimonthly reading event featuring literary works by Penang writers. Produced by Dabble Dabble Jer Collective (DDJ....

by Miriam Devaprasana

Penang as Launchpad for Fine Arts Graduates to Craft Art Careers?

4 min read

FORMAL FINE ARTS programmes remain relatively uncommon in tertiary education institutions in Malaysia, and in Penang, only Equator College and the School of The...

by Nicole Chang

The Vibrancy, Variety—and Silent Endurance—of Indian Cultures on Show

3 min read

“Spice and Curry”, staged from 4 to 5 November 2023, was a showcase of Indian artistic fare. The cosy and compact space at iBox Theatre was fitted with garlands, saree fabrics, glittering peacock features and burning incense.

by Fadzrina Ariffin

The Muralz: A Movie Animating Solidarity and Hope

3 min read

GEORGE TOWN’S MURALS take centre stage in The Muralz, a remarkable animated creation featuring a devoted food delivery driver who befriends Pahlawan Nasi Lemak,...

by Rachel Yeoh

Stunning Paintings of Birds of Malaysia by Choo Beng Teong

3 min read

ORNITHOLOGY IS THE study of birds—and Choo Beng Teong has devoted his career to it by creating anatomically precise paintings, most of which have been showcased...

by Penang Monthly

Foo Hong Tatt's Poetry in Paint

5 min read

FOO HONG TATT was born on 9 April 1940, several months before World War II descended upon Malaya. He recalls hiding with his family at their estate in the hills...

by Eugene Quah