There are cities that share their stories with people who visit them through museums and big monuments.. George Town is different. The old part of Penang tells its story in a way. It tells its story on the walls of buildings in alleys on old doors and on the fronts of old shops that are falling apart. George Town tells its story with wire sculptures of people and with paintings that are so nice you have to stop and look at them. You will also want to take a picture of these paintings. If you are traveling around Southeast Asia and you do not walk around George Town to see the street art you will miss something special.
This guide from GlanceAsia will help you see all the street art in George Town. It will tell you the story behind the art show you which paintings you have to see and give you tips for walking around the city. The guide will also tell you everything you need to know to have a great time, in George Town.
Why George Town? The Story Behind the Street Art
George Town is a special place. It is a city that is alive and it’s full of history. The city got an important award in July 2008. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This mean that the George Town is recognised as a mixture of specail culture, which is made up of Malay, Chinese, Indian and British influences that have been shaping the city for a very long time.
To make people aware of this status and to make the city look even more special the Penang State Government had a competition in 2009. This competition was called “Marking George Town”. The best idea came from a studio in Kuala Lumpur called Sculpture At Work. They suggested putting up some iron wire art installations around George Town. These installations show what everyday life is like, in George Town and they also show the trades and traditions of the people who live in George Town.
That in 2012, with George Town Festival brought in Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic. His colourful, hyper-realistic wall art amused, and then captured, the attention of George Town and the whole internet. Real-life object(s) like bicycle, swing, chair etc were painted into paintings and encouraged passerby to interact with it.George Town became the Street Art Capital of Asia and attracted visitors from all over the world to explore the street.
Today the street art are now more than Zacharevic’s creations, local and foreign artist keep adding their work on it. This leads to an endless outdoor exhibition in the streets.
The Two Types of Street Art You’ll Find
Before you put on your walking shoes it is an idea to know what you are looking for. The street art in George Town can be divided into two types:
- Wall Murals:These are the colourful paintings that people all over the world know about. Some of the Wall Murals are playful. Like kids riding bicycles or a boy sitting on a chair. Other Wall Murals have important messages about the culture and identity of Penang. The Wall Murals are made in styles some look like real photos and some are more like drawings. Many of the Wall Murals are made so that people can take pictures with them and share on Instagram like the Wall Murals, in George Town.
- Iron Wire Installations:These Iron Wire Installations are often overlooked by people who are visiting for the time but the Iron Wire Installations are just as fascinating.There are over 50 Iron Wire Installations made of steel rods over George Town and each Iron Wire Installation tells a small story about the history of George Town. Like a barber cutting hair a woman making baskets out of rattan or a man pulling a rickshaw.
The Iron Wire Installations look really beautiful when they are lit up at night so taking a walk in the evening is just as nice, as taking a walk during the day to see the Iron Wire Installations.
The Must-See Murals on Your Heritage Walk
- Kids on a Bicycle. Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian)
This street art in Penang is really famous. You can see why.it was Created by Ernest Zacharevic in 2012 it features two kids riding a bicycle thats on the wall. The scene feels happy. Reminds you of when you were young. Armenian Street is where you start exploring street art and this mural is a beginning. - Young Kids on a Swing. Lebuh Armenian
There’s another work by Zacharevic just a short walk away from the bicycle mural. A kid is swinging on a rope thats really attached to a wall thats falling apart. It shows what being a kid is like, in an touching way. - Reaching Up. Lebuh Cannon
I saw a boy who is stretching his arm up towards a hole in the wall. The Reaching Up mural is really subtle. It makes you think. I think it is beautiful. If you walk away from the road and, into the quieter streets of George Town you will see this Reaching Up mural and it is worth looking at. - The Three Cultural Girls
The Three Cultural Girls mural shows the three groups of people who live in Penang. The Malay people, the Indian people and the Chinese people. I think The Three Cultural Girls mural is one of the important things to see on the trail. It is celebrating how different people are and that is what makes George Town such a great place to visit.
- Wo Ai Nee (I Love You)
This little mural says Wo Ai Nee which means I Love You in Chinese. People think it is like a love letter to Penang and the people who live there. It is small. It has a lot of love in it. -
Local Traders Mural. Chan Kai Lun
Chan Kai Lun painted a big mural of two Local Traders. The Local Traders Mural shows them clearly even though they are between big air-conditioning units and lots of electricity cables. The Local Traders Mural is an example of how the street art in George Town fits perfectly with the city around it. The Local Traders Mural, by Chan Kai Lun is very good.
Highlights of the Heritage Walk Beyond the Murals
The street art in George Town is really something. It is one part of what makes George Town so interesting. When you walk around you will see some of the amazing streets in all of Southeast Asia.
- Clan Jetties If you take a walk from where most of the street art is you will find the Clan Jetties. These are villages built on wooden stilts over the water. Chinese families who came to Penang a time ago in the 19th century built them. Each jetty is like a community and they are all named after different families like the Chew family the Tan family, the Lee family and the Lim family. There are also jetties for people from backgrounds and they are all part of the Clan Jetties. The Chew Jetty is the biggest one and a lot of people visit it. It has a cool mural at the end, which makes the old wooden walkways look even nicer. This is called living history,because people still live in the Clan Jetties today.
- Armenian Street, also known as Lebuh Armenian. located in the center of the street art scene in George Town. There are a lot of murals here. That is not all. The street is also lined with beautiful old shops cute little cafes, antique stores and the amazing Sri Mahamariamman Temple. You should take your time when you are here because there are some alleys, off the main street that have murals that are not as well known. George Towns street art is really something to see. Armenian Street is a big part of that.
- Muntri Street and Chulia Street are really cool. These two streets have a lot of murals and installations.They are next to each other. Chulia Street is also a place to stay if you are on a budget. There are lots of guesthouses and street food stalls. You can feel the energy of all the backpackers. Muntri Street and Chulia Street have a mix of art and food and local people. which makes them really fun to walk around.
- The Blue Mansion which is also known as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. It is one of the famous places, in George Town. The Blue Mansion is an old Chinese house. It is blue. Was built a long time ago. A rich man named Cheong Fatt Tze used to live. The Blue Mansion is really pretty. It has tiles and windows and carvings. You should go see The Blue Mansion even if you do not take a tour. Just looking at the outside is worth it. The Blue Mansion is a place to visit.
- Penang Town Hall and Fort Cornwallis To see old city was like a time ago you can start or end your walk at the Esplanade. This is where you will find Fort Cornwallis, which’s the place where the British people first came to Penang in 1786. The Penang Town Hall is also here. It is a very nice building. The City Hall is too. What makes George Town really interesting to look at is the colonial buildings like Fort Cornwallis and the Penang Town Hall and the streets which have people, from many different cultures. The old and the new are mixed together in George Town, which’s what makes it so nice to look at.
Practical Tips for the Walk
Best Time to Go
best time for the visit is either you go early in the morning before 9Am or after 4pm afternoon, because the weather is hot and it will make it difficult to enjoy or walk.
- How Long Does It Take?it’s gonna take upto 3 to 5 hour to explore all the Art clusters, clan and key heritage buildings.
- Getting a Map You can get a map of the street art at most hotels and tourist offices in the UNESCO heritage zone. This map shows you where all the famous murals are and it is really helpful when you are walking around. Many people also use Google Maps. Save the places they want to see so they can make their own route.
- Guided vs Self-Guided You can definitely walk around by yourself. It is a good way to do it because you can stop wherever you like.. If you want to know more about the heritage buildings the history of the clans and the stories behind the art then it is a good idea to go on a guided heritage walk with someone who knows a lot about Penang. George Town Heritage Walks has different tours, including a Street Art & Clan Jetty walk.
- What to Wear You should wear clothes that’re comfortable and will keep you cool. you will need to walk a lot there for you must wear comfortable shoes
- Entrance Fees The street art walk is free.. Some heritage buildings, like the Blue Mansion charge a small fee if you want to take a guided tour.
A Note on the Art’s Condition
Penang’s weather affects the murals over time. Some have. Been repainted. So what you see in person might look a bit different, from photos. This is part of the art scenes changing vibe. It’s a reason to visit soon and see the new artworks being added all the time.
Final Thoughts from GLanceasia
George Towns street art and heritage walk is more than a tourist trail. It is a journey into the heart of a city. The city has been shaped by people moving in trading and mixing cultures over centuries.
* Every mural has a story behind it.
* Every iron wire figure represents a tradition.
* Every old shophouse holds a memory.
You can spend half a day or two days walking around its streets and alleys. George Town will leave an impression on you. It is one of Southeast Asias special city experiences. You should include it in your travel plans if you are a traveller.
At Glanceasia we think the way to know Asia is to walk slowly be open to new things and be very curious. George Town is a place to do this.
We believe that by walking its streets you can understand the city and its people better. George Towns street art and heritage walk is a way to experience the city.
It has a lot of character. Is very unique.
George Town has a lot to offer from its street art, to its heritage.
The city is a place to learn about Asia’s culture and history.
well Global Village of dubai is also mixture of different culture do visit that also
