Permit required: House owner Chew showing the notice from MBPP on her mural at Chew Jetty in Penang. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: No matter how inspired, no one can paint a mural for the public without approval from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
This has been the rule since 2017 to ensure public art in the heritage enclave reflects its Unesco World Heritage Site status.
The reminder came after a Chinese tourist added a small panda to an existing mural on a house in Chew Jetty.
The existing mural itself had never been approved.
The panda, drawn in a fluffy “kawaii” (Japanese for cute) style, was painted by Chongqing-based artist Shen Shishi or “Shi Shi”.
A video uploaded on Oct 15 showed a resident trying to dissuade her but she kept painting and then posed with her work.
She was initially criticised online for defacing the mural but it was later clarified that the building owner had invited her to add the panda.
Yesterday, MBPP ordered the removal of the artwork after it became an Internet sensation.
In a notice issued under Section 82 of the Local Government Act 1976, the owner was instructed to erase and repaint the wall.
The mural went viral after a video of Shen painting the panda spread online.
She has painted similar pandas in other parts of Penang, including Butterworth.
MBPP said it supported creative expression as long as artworks complied with heritage guidelines.
Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the council had always taken a permissive approach toward mural art, provided that such works complied with the guidelines for the Unesco site and received endorsement from George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) Public Art Review Panel (PARP).
“As new artworks continue to emerge within the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site, the situation has to be analysed further with assessments and approvals ongoing.
“Building owners are advised to apply for a mural-painting permit if a mural is potentially eligible for endorsement rather than be served fines.
“If the artwork does not comply with the guidelines or is deemed unsuitable, the building owner will be advised to remove or paint over it,” he said.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said 57 murals were officially recorded and permitted within the George Town World Heritage Site but the panda was not among them.
“Applications must be submitted through the Integrated Local Council Solution.
“The Heritage Conservation Department registers the application and forwards it to GTWHI and the secretariat for PARP.
“The artwork is assessed based on outstanding universal value, location and sensitivity.
“GTWHI then prepares a letter for the council which issues the permit,” he said.
Wong also said only murals related to the outstanding universal value of the site would be approved.
“When every corner has a mural, they can start to lose their impact and become cliche.
“Other forms of public art such as container art, installations, interactive works, digital projections or performance-based street art could enrich Penang’s street arts scene,” he added.
