Penang is known for many things, primarily it’s food. The island — popular with both foreigners and domestic tourists — is the undisputed foodie capital of Malaysia and rightfully so. However in order to eat your way across the island you have to stand up and walk to the next stop in your edible quest. Not only will this help build your appetite for the next dish, it is also the perfect opportunity to stroll past the impressive and unique street art scattered around Georgetown.
All of the Penang street art is located in George Town — the main city on the island, the capital of Penang state, and the third largest city in Malaysia. George Town is a historic city of the Strait of Malacca and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is not only a top tourist destination but an obligatory one, especially for first time visitors.
Visitors leave Penang with a belly full of food and a camera full of photos.
Penang street art is 3-dimensional…
The most iconic street art in Penang are the 3D creations. Each one features a common everyday object surrounded by art drawn to make it look as if both exist in the same dimension.
…and often includes metal wire art
The metal wire artwork in Penang is also very captivating. Most of the murals come with a descriptive sentence or even a couple talk bubbles, as if the artwork was a one frame comic in the newspaper. This is not your normal street art, which is probably part of what makes it so intriguing.
Gigantic Wall-Size Murals
Many of the street art murals cover the entire side of buildings. Unfortunately because of the tight-knit quarters, this can sometimes make getting a proper full-frame photo next to impossible. That’s where a GoPro comes in handy 😉
Other Artwork Is Unclassifiable
I learned about the Despicable Me characters while walking around Georgetown, courtesy of my friend Puteri (something I cannot forget now no matter how hard I try). After that I started noticing several DM characters scattered around town but only once the focus of the mural.
Penang Street Art Map
This map contains the locations of some of the most iconic pieces of street art. Of course, the art is in a state of gradual but perpetual change, so don’t get upset if the map does not include the newest exhibits yet.
How are you brother.
Good Nuwan I fly to Sri Lanka next week, but just for 1-2 days then India….don’t have time to relax like last time, all work-work-work 🙁
Love this! It reminds me of the 3D art museum in Chiang Mai.
I didn’t get the chance to make it there last time I was in CM. I take it you recommend it though? There are always so many travel bloggers calling CM home, been meaning to swing back around and catch up with everyone…
I haven’t been either… still trying to find someone to go with me! It’s not really a place to go on your own, y’know?
Yup, I definitely run into those types of places on a somewhat regular basis. Some days/weeks it really sucks being a solo nomad. But most days it still beats the cubicle 😉
Damn!! You ask us choosing our favorite artworks??
It’s the hardest part, okay..
The 3D Art are very impressive and super creative, I like some of them but I have to admit it, a few of them are just a bit spooky or creepy when you see these at dark.
For instance; a couple of Chinese kids who stand on the swinging chair, is it just me, if I saw this at dark.. err, it’s kinda horror because it looks real and what the hell these kids do at night.. That’s my interpretation. *listening to kids laughing are typical in Horror movie :p*
Metal Wires are also cool, but they are very comical…
However, my best favorite is number two from the bottom. I love the idea of this street art, a full color cute cat being surrounded by typical Chinese doll cats, the symbol of a Good Luck, and did you notice what is this black cat looking at?? Haha, look at carefully.. there’s a mouse id hanging on the roof. And this black cat expression is very funny, “I WILL CATCH YOU, I WILL CATCH YOU…” 🙂 , Good Luck Big Cat!!!
And the other one, I like the most is, Black and White girl painting on the massive wall, and seems like her air is morphing from hair to tree branches and birds. It’s beautiful concept and what can I say is, Very Brilliant. Even though it’s just a painting but it’s a very animated picture.
What’s your favorite?
Ohh yeah, those kids on the swings was in a small alley so that would be doubly spooky at night 😉 And yes, that mouse is my favorite part of the cat street art. Although my favorite wire art one is the lady crawling up the drain pipe to spy through the window in search of her husband, my favorite one overall is the colorful boat full o’ characters or the girl with the windswept hair…although the crazy furry Japanese (?) critter photo is also cool, but mainly because of the kids sitting in front of it hahaha 😉
I think the ‘the crazy furry’ is not Japanese but Chinese Barongsai in Indonesian we named it, this right you mean??
http://s.kaskus.id/images/2015/02/19/6311751_20150219115828.jpg
Barongsai is always appeared in Chinese New Year.
Oh yeah, I also blog about il/legal Graffiti in Singapore and link this entry to one of 3D Art in Singapore which has the same concept with Penang 3D Art 😉
Never would I have expected to find such amazing street art in Penang. I decided not to visit it when I went to Malaysia three years ago and now I deeply regret it, since I am a huge fan of (good) street art.
My favourites? I’d say the first set of 3D photos. Just uber cool!
Definitely agree with you there Simon, the 3D ones are definitely the coolest of the bunch 😉 Seems like I’m finding street art in more and more unexpected cities these last few years…
I am a Malaysian and I’ve just discovered the Penang Street Art…!! Now i’m seeing a lot of blogs on this. Your pictures are nice, I miss some of them during my visit.
Hey Fariz, makasih banyak 🙂 Yeah, the Penang street art is really cool, especially the wire art. Which was your favorite piece of artwork?
I hope they keep adding more to it 🙂 cheers