Penang's arts scene kept alive by resilient community spirit

Contemporary dancers performing at the launch of 'Here: Poems For Our Planet' at Hin Bus Depot in Jalan Gurdwara, George Town in Penang in April 2019. Photo: The Star/Chan Boon Kai

From paintings on the walls to creative spaces in the mind, Penang’s art scene is complicated to say the least.

Striving to break out of its shell, the scene’s identity today is in constant conflict – from Insta-crazed murals and a struggling-yet-determined musical stage to independent art collectives that are soldiering on in a George Town that has seen freer days.