Art showcase to unite folk in uncertain times

Ch’ng (left) showing one of his artworks to Penang State Museum and Art Gallery director Lee Khai.

‘BEYOND 2020’, an art exhibition to unite and connect people in times of uncertainty, will be held at Penang State Museum and Art Gallery until Aug 25.

Hosted by Penang Art Society in conjunction with its 67th anniversary this year, the exhibition features artworks from 10 societies and 140 local and international artists.

The participating societies are FILARTS from Filipinas Institute (International), The calligraphy and poetry section of Balik Pulau Art Society, Chinese Brush Painting Art Society, Malaysian Artists Society and Persatuan Pelukis Wanita, North Kedah Art Society, Photographic Society of Penang, Penang Water Colour Society, Sarawak Fine Arts Society in Kuching and The Penang Teachers’ Art Circle.

Penang Art Society president Ch’ng Huck Theng said that apart from promoting creativity, the exhibition aimed to increase the solidarity needed to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Each artwork on the wall is a symbol of hope to show that this pandemic will not hinder the spirit of mankind but instead, create unexpected opportunities despite movement restrictions.

“This year has been a very tough time for all with the Covid-19 pandemic taking us by surprise and crippling the entire world.

“Many countries are finding it difficult to win the war against this virus and some Western countries such as the US are facing uphill

battles as their citizens are invoking their human rights to go against their Government’s effort to control this disease.

“Now is the time for us to be heroes.

“We should not be the kind of people who tell the world we have rights to do whatever we want but heroes who can think of others and stand united to win the war, ” he said.

The exhibition is on the third floor at the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery which will be open from 10am to 4pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

For more details, the public may visit https://www.facebook.com/events/3346690842059215/.