The Malaysian city of Penang has long been something of a heritage hotspot, so one would be forgiven for assuming the various artistic murals that are scattered across the buildings along Beach Street in the Georgetown neighbourhood were painted quite a while ago. However, these colourful creations are in fact something of a new phenomenon for the region, having been brought to life only within the past decade and gifting the lane with a new epithet – Penang Art Street.
Unsurprisingly, Georgetown itself was officially designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 2008 thanks to its countless well-preserved Colonial-era structures and tranquil hill-station vibes – a throwback to the days when empire-minded Brits ruled the island. Today, the neighbourhood still feels like a living-breathing real-life museum for those bygone times.
Speed up to 2012, though, and Penang’s municipal council decided it was time to revamp the area, and breathe new life into the traditional shop houses found across its inner city. They chose to do so by bringing in London-trained Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic. From there, the city council collaborated with Zacharevic to create a unique form of Penang wall art and bring back the rich history of Georgetown’s streets.
Inspired by the everyday lives of the local inhabitants, Zacharevic created a handful of murals that truly capture the bustling spirit of the city through a mixture of images, particularly of the children who call Penang their home.
Penang’s Art Street is indeed the perfect reason to dust off your old 35mm camera, or at the very least make sure your iPhone battery is at 100 percent.
Text: Bailey Atkinson