#gtf2017

A. Start at Whiteaways Arcade at Lebuh Pantai. Give yourself at least 1.5 hrs to cover the 4 exhibitions there. But you need to spend 3 hrs at just one exhibition alone – Joined by the Crown – to listen and watch the audio and video works in entirety (you should – if you love stories and are concerned about George Town’s future). 1. Noted by SC Shekar and Chen May Yee is a really meaningful, insightful exhibition of Malaysia’s top writers and artists. I do believe the letter published in Dina Zaman’s portrait is by Pastor Raymond Koh, whose abduction remains a disturbing mystery.

Anurendra Jegadeva

Dina Zaman 

2. The Malaysian women’s exhibition demonstrates a wide range of styles and themes.

Terus Kekal by Engku Iman 

3. Joined by the Crown is a show featuring works by mainly Singapore and Malaysian artists, responding to the historic links between Penang and Singapore, dating from 1826. The most important work for Penang is an audio recording of over 20 ppl’s opinions abt developing in George Town (90mins). By Goh Choon Ean, this capturing of diverse views in this time period, is important enough to be acquired by the state art gallery, really.

Jonathan Yun

Gallery view 

Stick a shophouse in Neighbours by Guo Yixiu

A Road by Any Other Name by Sharon Cheah + Denise Eng 

B. From Whiteaways, walk 3-5 mins to Bangunan UAB on China Street.  1. Go see the stunning photos of indigenous tribes by photographer Jimmy Nelson “Before They Pass Away” (literally)! Besides the full photos itself, i was fascinated amazed by the various necklace designs!

2. Pua Kumbu is a MUST-SEE!! It is a beautifully set up display for Sarawak’s traditonal woven textiles. Check out the app that has been created so that when you point your phone over some of the pieces, you will get the details of the work. Especially the one where you can see how hornbills and monkeys are transformed into graphic patterns on the cloth. The academic in charge of the exhibition, Dr Welyne Jeffrey Jehom, is also usually stationed at the gallery so you can hv an expert to talk to during the month.

  C. If you still have the time and/or stamina, or on another day, walk towards China House from Chulia St and you will pass by Character Types by Goh Hun Meng and Gareth Ismail Richards. This is super enlightening and fun!

  D. End your tour at China House, for a view of Bangkok-based Bruno Tanqueral’s whimsical sparkly and floating white shirt installation in the airwell. And of course, his long 1982 “scroll” of charcoal drawings.

E. Outside of the walkable cluster in Beach/China roads, Hin Bus Depot on Jalan Gurdwara is worth going to. Reka has funky collectible art.

More on exhibitions in GTF2017 here!