After a limited hybrid presentation in June due to pandemic restrictions, the George Town Festival (GTF) wraps up its 12th edition this year with two arts programmes comprising Nine Days Eight Exhibitions and Nine Days Eight Shows from Nov 20-28 and Dec 4-12, respectively.
Nine Days Eight Exhibitions brings art into everyday lives with exhibitions and showcases at cafes, shopping malls and other selected venues. These were some of the art exhibitions that were postponed earlier this year because of MCO 3.0.
Among the exhibition highlights are Lefty Julian’s Sama-Sama: George Town, A Multicultural Art Journey at Mini Cube@Mano Plus, which explores, celebrates and documents the spirit of harmony and heritage in multicultural Malaysia. This is the pilot phase of a long-term personal undertaking by the veteran cartoonist, who aims to celebrate and rediscover the nation's multicultural heritage through documentary art.
In visual/performing artist Lay Heong’s Between 01 at Jetty 35, which is part art installation, part dance performance, recycled materials take centre stage. It encourages people to rethink our relationships with ourselves, each other and the world around us. For viewers keen on environment and art, this is a show to investigate.
GTF complements the publication of photobook Penang At A Glance with a photo exhibition at Gurney Plaza. Through both familiar and rare scenes of Penang captured by photographers Govindarajoo Selvathurai, Oh Chin Eng, Sherwynd Rylan Kessler and Thum Chia Chieh, you can get to know Penang a bit better and revel in its diversity, culture, heritage and people.
At Bangunan U.A.B, the 3 x 3 group exhibition features artworks created by residency artists during the lockdown where they interrogated what their homes meant to them. The works from Cassie Wong Mun Yew, Harold Reagan Eswar, Ivan Alexander Francis Gabriel, Lee Lai Queen, Liu Yong Sean, Muhamat Ammar Bin Idris, Norfatihah Binti Yusof and Putri Intan Sari Binti Amrizal will be all fitted into a space measuring only 3x3m.
Rounding up Nine Days Eight Exhibitions is Frankie Lim’s AR/UTISTIC: Diaries On The Spectrum where he offers us a glimpse into his thoughts and stories before and during the pandemic, told from the perspective of a person with autism; the France eMotion photography exhibition which brings images of France to life through photography and augmented reality; Red Hong Yi and team’s Thank God It’s Monday showcase of creative works produced on, yes, Mondays; and the Creative Collection exhibition, with its focus on local brands and identities.
The Nine Days Eight Shows programming is just as eclectic, with events ranging from concerts and movie screenings, to wayang kulit and stand-up comedy.
Visit the George Town Festival website for more information.
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