Penang turning to urban art to attract tourists

Urban Xchange project artisan Low Chee Peng working on his steel sculpture called ‘Roof Walker’ at the Hin Bus Depot Art Centre in Jalan Gurdwara, Penang.

ART will be one of Penang’s key economic drivers in the future.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said: “Over the years, we have been encouraging artists to explore their talent freely.

“According to the Lonely Planet, we are top in Asia as the city with ‘surprising arts scene and hip accommodation’.

“We are happy to have attracted talented artists from overseas and Penang is slowly becoming a centre for art, not just for local artists but also for our foreign friends,” he added.

“To encourage the effort, we will include not only financial aid but also space and freedom of expression for art to flourish here,” he said at the Urban Xchange Art Festival press conference in Jalan Gurdwara on Thursday.

The Urban Xchange festival is being held until Nov 15 from noon to 7pm daily.

Hin Bus Depot Art Centre curator Gabija Grusaite said one of the highlights included the ‘Late@Hin: The Constellations’ by Berlin-based artist Adomas Zudys.

“A collaboration with musician J.G. Biberkopf, the work is a multi-layered interactive video mapping show.

“To bring out the effect of the show, the opening hours will be prolonged until midnight from now until Thursday. It is a project to complement another festival highlight namely ‘The Star: Concept’ by Jun Ong,” she added.

Zudys, 26, said his project would involve multi-projectors.

“Standing in the middle of an old building, the audience can watch the video playing around them.

“It will be a specific configuration and involves the spheres of geology, biology, technology and cosmology,” he said.

He added that he would also be making his biggest stencil thus far, not in size but in detail.

“Stencilling is something I started in 2008. I am really happy to do it by connecting art and technology this time.

“I have no formal training. In 2012, I moved to Berlin, one of the best street art capitals in Europe where I learn many different things using technology and art.

“Initially, I look for photos in the Internet. When I wanted more, I would ask my friends for photos.

“Soon, I learn to generate my own images with a 3D software,” he added.

UX 2015 will also see six young Malaysian artists working with artisans to learn more skills of the trade and immerse themselves in contemporary art.

For details, visit http://urbanxchange2015.com.