City as a Canvas

There are places where art thrives. Historic cities such as Florence where you can marvel at the likeness of David and get lost in the scene of the Fountain of Neptune. Affluent cities like Paris that collect the greatest the world has to offer. Then there are cities where art and expression are intertwined in its own structure and culture. Such as Rio de Janeiro where murals distract from the disparity in wealth.

Penang is none of these things…

You could walk through the streets of Georgetown, Penang for days and not even notice the richness of expression exhibited on its walls. And that is where Penang sets itself apart. Similar to the Street Art of London, you can download maps and hire tours to zoom you around for quick selfies. But the fun is getting lost and running into the Street Art on a leisurely stroll. You’ll stare at the side of a building recognizing that something is “off”, and through a new perspective you’ll come to realize “oh, those are flowers coming out of an ice cream cone”. It’s fun, and there’s good street food along the way to go with some great hidden speakeasy bars (more to come here) to end the day. Penang is hot, sweaty, and most importantly quirky and a hell of a good time for a few days.

Finding Penang Street Art

I’m not going to provide a map of where to find each piece of street art, but I’ll give you a head start. THIS is the general location of where you can catch the majority of the street art. It’s in the center of old town, which is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Penang street art initially was started by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic during the 2012 Georgetown Festival. It has since sparked inspiration of local and international artists alike that depict the unique culture and history of Georgetown. Below is a few I came upon, but highly recommend you discover a few for yourself…