CHINESE INK painting was once a focus of Penang’s Chinese community, especially among groups passionate for Chinese arts and culture, during the 30s and 40s. That was when artists from China still came to Penang, nourishing and inspiring the place. Some settled down and sought to earn a living here, while some came to exhibit and sell their artworks to raise funds for the war relief efforts in China.
During that period, Penang art collectors and artists actively supported artists from China by holding exhibitions and activities to showcase and market their works. The founding of Penang Art Society (PAS) by a group of local Chinese in 1953 was advocated by Xu Beihong, a prominent artist from China. The society was founded with a focus on Chinese art paintings and calligraphy.
