RM1mil facelift for Chowrasta
PENANG’s Chowrasta Market, which is well known for its secondhand bookstores, preserved fruits and titbit stalls, will undergo a RM1mil facelift next year.
Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik said the Penang Municipal Council’s licensing, building and engineering departments started a discussion in May for work to be undertaken.
“The discussion also involved Think City Sdn Bhd and Khazanah Nasional Bhd which had helped to recruit a consultant to study the whole building.
“However, the team is still trying to determine whether to upgrade or rebuild the market,” he said after inspecting the cleanliness of the market on Thursday.
Ng added that the discussion was ongoing and hoped the plan would be finalised by November.
“We will try to maintain the building if possible. Even though it is not a heritage building, but it still has its value.
“The new plan will see a restructure of the market to accommodate more traders in the wet market located on the ground floor.
“The first floor will house a dry market while the second may be turned into a place for sports and leisure,” he said.
Ng said the state is also calling on investors to submit their proposals to the state for consideration.
Chowrasta, which means ‘four crossroads’ in Urdu, faces Penang Road and is flanked by Lebuh Tamil, Jalan Chowrasta and Jalan Kuala Kangsar.
The original Chowrasta Market was built in 1890 by the George Town Municipal Council.
Meanwhile, it is now compulsory for all wet market traders to have their own bins instead of just discarding the waste on the floor.
Ng said traders who failed to prepare their own waste bins would be fined RM50 by the council.
“This rule that traders have to have their own bins is listed in their licences.
“I have received many complaints especially from Chowrasta Market traders that council workers have not been cleaning up the market.
“But after my inspection, I realised that many traders, especially the fishmongers and butchers, would just discard the waste on the floor or into the drain,” he said.
Ng added that the council sends 20 workers to clean the market everyday from 6.30am to 10pm.
“They will take turns to clean the floors, drains and surroundings of the market at different times.
“The traders have to be fair and play their part in ensuring the cleanliness of the market,” he said.
Ng said traders who were stubborn and refused to properly manage their waste would risk having their licences suspended by the council’s licensing department.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Magnificient mosaic art
Magnificient mosaic art
THE beautiful Hotel Penaga mosaic drew gasps of admiration as the colourful piece was unveiled for visitors to the boutique hotel in Lebuh Clarke.
The wall piece was the collaborative effort by three Australian and American artists who finished the mosaic in barely a month.
Inspired by ‘the shyness of trees’ – a botanical phenomenon that sees trees of the same species in the forest separated by a gap so that the leaves of one does not touch the other, the artists created the mosaic using pebbles, broken paving stones, ceramic and glass.
From Italian and Mexican glass to water-worn stones, each piece fits perfectly into the wall like a piece of missing puzzle.
The huge mosaic also spills to the floor of the hotel’s rear verandah, and showcases unique elements of Penang’s famous tales, such as how Francis Light fired gold coins into the forest to encourage locals to clear the land when he first arrived here.
The coins were represented by blue and white porcelain fragments salvaged from a shipwreck off Vietnam.
A stream of engraved lines scored into the granite connects the doorways and the mosaic, representing a river that used to run through Tanjung Penaga, or what is today, George Town. Hotel co-owner Angela Hijjas said artists would be invited to stay at Penaga to create works in the studio or elsewhere on the island.
-News courtesy of The Star-
THE beautiful Hotel Penaga mosaic drew gasps of admiration as the colourful piece was unveiled for visitors to the boutique hotel in Lebuh Clarke.
The wall piece was the collaborative effort by three Australian and American artists who finished the mosaic in barely a month.
Inspired by ‘the shyness of trees’ – a botanical phenomenon that sees trees of the same species in the forest separated by a gap so that the leaves of one does not touch the other, the artists created the mosaic using pebbles, broken paving stones, ceramic and glass.
From Italian and Mexican glass to water-worn stones, each piece fits perfectly into the wall like a piece of missing puzzle.
The huge mosaic also spills to the floor of the hotel’s rear verandah, and showcases unique elements of Penang’s famous tales, such as how Francis Light fired gold coins into the forest to encourage locals to clear the land when he first arrived here.
The coins were represented by blue and white porcelain fragments salvaged from a shipwreck off Vietnam.
A stream of engraved lines scored into the granite connects the doorways and the mosaic, representing a river that used to run through Tanjung Penaga, or what is today, George Town. Hotel co-owner Angela Hijjas said artists would be invited to stay at Penaga to create works in the studio or elsewhere on the island.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Painting George Town red
Painting George Town red
SOME 20 locations in George Town, Penang, turned into a hive of activities in conjunction with the second anniversary of the listing of the city as a World Heritage Site.
Despite the cloudy skies and sporadic drizzle, there was a combustion of sights, sounds and colours in a kaleidoscope of multi-cultural diversity for 15-long hours.
Aptly dubbed ‘Streets Come Alive — Unforgettable George Town’, yesterday’s official kick-off marked the start of the George Town Festival 2010, a month-long celebration featu-ring renowned international and local talents aimed at highlighting the universal values, culture and history that makes the city unique.
Since 8am, crowds gathered to join Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in celebrating the series of events held at the heritage enclave.
Riding a pony cart with state officials trailing behind in a convoy of trishaws, Lim visited several historic sites, boutique hotels and art exhibitions within the inner city.
At the Town Hall along the iconic Esplanade promenade, Lim flagged off a trishaw treasure hunt after launching the festival and the George Town World Heritage Incorporated website and logo.
Against a backdrop of black and white photographs of old Penang, Dasha Logan, daughter of the late Loganathan of Alleycats fame, performed a duet of Nat King Cole’s timeless ballad ‘Unforgettable’ — in line with the festival’s theme.
Lim then proceeded to the more than a century-old Court House before meeting contemporary artist Leon Lim at the junction of Union Street and Penang Street.
The latter then chatted with Lim about ‘The Last Chairs’ — his public art masterpiece specially created for the festival.
At China Street and Stewart Lane, works by Sharon Cheah and Fuan Wong were on display.
Wong’s glass art installation ‘Dream Ficus’, was an amazing piece of fluid colours that dazzled with the light while Cheah’s exhibition featured 23 photographs of cemeteries from 18 countries around the world.
Sculpture At Work, the company working on putting up sculptures and granite slabs to mark the heritage zone, briefed Lim on the progress of the project at Transfer Road.
Nearby, Hotel Penaga opened its doors to showcase a magnificent mosaic wall piece by Australian artists Helen Bodycomb, Glenn Romanis and Dominic Johns and George Fishman from the United States.
The greening of the city’s heritage enclave project was also launched during a tree-planting ceremony by Lim at Carnarvon Street.
At the Chinese clan jetties on Weld Quay, tourists took the opportunity to explore the waters on free motor boat rides.
For a more off-beat tour, visitors were taken to see the final resting place of Penang’s famous figures at the Protestant Cemetery on Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.
While classical Indian dances and sitar, tabla and nadaswaram (Indian trumpet) music filled the air at Little India, Malay heritage performances including the popular boria, ghazal and silat were performed just mi-nutes away at Armenian Street.
In the evening, the cultural party continued with interesting demonstrations of traditional food and local crafts. The teh tarik demonstration was particularly popular with tourists flocking to catch the action.
Meanwhile, artisans and craftsmen showed off their talents in making lanterns, shadow puppets, batik, henna, shoe painting, Chinese calligraphy, beaded crafts as well as rattan and bamboo items.
The various Chinese clan houses joined in the fun by staging various cultural and musical performances including a Beijing Opera featuring acclaimed Iranian-born Chinese Opera performer Ghaffar Pourazar and International Centre for Peking Opera founding member Chie Morimura, kung fu demonstrations and a Teochew opera performance.
At the Cheah Kongsi, clashing cymbals and thumping drums woke the sleeping “lions” before they sprung into action on the high poles.
Despite only having six weeks to organise the massive festival, the state, the Penang Municipal Council, non-governmental organisations, private sector and volunteers worked hard to ensure the success of the events.
For details on upcoming George Town Festival 2010 events, log on to www.georgetownfestival.com or e-mail info@georgetownfestival.com.
-News courtesy of The Star-
SOME 20 locations in George Town, Penang, turned into a hive of activities in conjunction with the second anniversary of the listing of the city as a World Heritage Site.
Despite the cloudy skies and sporadic drizzle, there was a combustion of sights, sounds and colours in a kaleidoscope of multi-cultural diversity for 15-long hours.
Aptly dubbed ‘Streets Come Alive — Unforgettable George Town’, yesterday’s official kick-off marked the start of the George Town Festival 2010, a month-long celebration featu-ring renowned international and local talents aimed at highlighting the universal values, culture and history that makes the city unique.
Since 8am, crowds gathered to join Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in celebrating the series of events held at the heritage enclave.
Riding a pony cart with state officials trailing behind in a convoy of trishaws, Lim visited several historic sites, boutique hotels and art exhibitions within the inner city.
At the Town Hall along the iconic Esplanade promenade, Lim flagged off a trishaw treasure hunt after launching the festival and the George Town World Heritage Incorporated website and logo.
Against a backdrop of black and white photographs of old Penang, Dasha Logan, daughter of the late Loganathan of Alleycats fame, performed a duet of Nat King Cole’s timeless ballad ‘Unforgettable’ — in line with the festival’s theme.
Lim then proceeded to the more than a century-old Court House before meeting contemporary artist Leon Lim at the junction of Union Street and Penang Street.
The latter then chatted with Lim about ‘The Last Chairs’ — his public art masterpiece specially created for the festival.
At China Street and Stewart Lane, works by Sharon Cheah and Fuan Wong were on display.
Wong’s glass art installation ‘Dream Ficus’, was an amazing piece of fluid colours that dazzled with the light while Cheah’s exhibition featured 23 photographs of cemeteries from 18 countries around the world.
Sculpture At Work, the company working on putting up sculptures and granite slabs to mark the heritage zone, briefed Lim on the progress of the project at Transfer Road.
Nearby, Hotel Penaga opened its doors to showcase a magnificent mosaic wall piece by Australian artists Helen Bodycomb, Glenn Romanis and Dominic Johns and George Fishman from the United States.
The greening of the city’s heritage enclave project was also launched during a tree-planting ceremony by Lim at Carnarvon Street.
At the Chinese clan jetties on Weld Quay, tourists took the opportunity to explore the waters on free motor boat rides.
For a more off-beat tour, visitors were taken to see the final resting place of Penang’s famous figures at the Protestant Cemetery on Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.
While classical Indian dances and sitar, tabla and nadaswaram (Indian trumpet) music filled the air at Little India, Malay heritage performances including the popular boria, ghazal and silat were performed just mi-nutes away at Armenian Street.
In the evening, the cultural party continued with interesting demonstrations of traditional food and local crafts. The teh tarik demonstration was particularly popular with tourists flocking to catch the action.
Meanwhile, artisans and craftsmen showed off their talents in making lanterns, shadow puppets, batik, henna, shoe painting, Chinese calligraphy, beaded crafts as well as rattan and bamboo items.
The various Chinese clan houses joined in the fun by staging various cultural and musical performances including a Beijing Opera featuring acclaimed Iranian-born Chinese Opera performer Ghaffar Pourazar and International Centre for Peking Opera founding member Chie Morimura, kung fu demonstrations and a Teochew opera performance.
At the Cheah Kongsi, clashing cymbals and thumping drums woke the sleeping “lions” before they sprung into action on the high poles.
Despite only having six weeks to organise the massive festival, the state, the Penang Municipal Council, non-governmental organisations, private sector and volunteers worked hard to ensure the success of the events.
For details on upcoming George Town Festival 2010 events, log on to www.georgetownfestival.com or e-mail info@georgetownfestival.com.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Pedalled hunt
Pedalled hunt
WHAT better way to explore George Town than by trishaw, a living heritage icon of the inner city?
With that in mind, the Heritage TreaShaw Hunt was organised as part of the George Town Festival 2010, which saw 30 teams of two participants each treasure hunting around the streets on these human-powered vehicles.
The teams, all sponsored by the corporate sector, were flagged off by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in front of the Town Hall at the Esplanade at 9.25am yesterday.
They were given two hours to complete the hunt which required them to answer questions or collect stamps and stickers along almost every single road they passed.
First stop was the Fort Cornwallis, where they had to count the number of cannons there and name the largest one — the Seri Rambai. Then it was off to the King Edward roundabout where they had to name the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower and record its height — 60ft to commemorate her 60th year of reign.
The clues also took the participants to collect spices at Little India. They also had to note down the number plate of a Scammell Scarab vehicle at the state museum and look for several specific places of business in the inner city.
While most of them wore the event’s T-shirt, a handful of participants took the trouble to dress up with the heritage theme in mind, out of their own initiative.
Cititel Penang front office assistants Nurul Nashita Mohd, 28, and Michelle Ong, 23, were dressed in matching Malay and Nyonya kebayas with batik sarong and wore beaded high-heeled slippers which they put aside during the hunt in favour of comfortable sneakers.
“We wanted to dress according to the theme and even though we may look formally dressed, we found that the cotton material of our outfits suitable for running around. We feel quite cool while some others look hot and bothered,” said Nurul Nashita.
PBB Group Bhd marketing and promotion executives Loo Ai Leen, 26, and Tunku Elisha Faitullah Tunku Usham, 25, were dressed in a cheongsam and kebaya respectively.
“We are used to being at the organising end of events but this is the first time that either of us are taking part in such an activity.
“We joined for the fun of it and found ourselves enjoying the hunt, which ended too soon,” said Tunku Elisha.
The Best Dressed prize went to Bayview Hotel Georgetown human resources assistant Stewart Choong, 22, and front office concierge Nazri Abdul Shokor, 29, who wore a red samfu and white samfu respectively.
“Being in the hotel industry, we felt we should promote Penang’s culture and heritage and so we chose to don traditional attire for the hunt,” said Choong.
The winning team with the most correct answers and best slogan — comprising Focal Concepts Sdn Bhd founder and creative director Susan Chyntana, 46, and party planner Khaw Bee Khim, 27, — was also the fastest to complete the hunt, reaching the finishing point at Bayview Hotel George-town within 54 minutes at 10.19am.
The pair, who are no strangers to treasure hunts, attributed their success to good team co-operation, including their trishaw pe-daller known as Ah Leong.
In second place were Tan Kai Chia and Tan Shing Yee of Mun Thong Crystal Sdn Bhd, while Lai Wei Siung and Choo Kam Fuat of Sentral Technology College came in third.
The Heritage Trea-Shaw Hunt was organised by Penang Global Tourism in collaboration with Impact Management, Koperasi Pelancongan (Kopel), Bayview Hotel Georgetown and Zarika Travel Sdn Bhd.
-News courtesy of The Star-
WHAT better way to explore George Town than by trishaw, a living heritage icon of the inner city?
With that in mind, the Heritage TreaShaw Hunt was organised as part of the George Town Festival 2010, which saw 30 teams of two participants each treasure hunting around the streets on these human-powered vehicles.
The teams, all sponsored by the corporate sector, were flagged off by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in front of the Town Hall at the Esplanade at 9.25am yesterday.
They were given two hours to complete the hunt which required them to answer questions or collect stamps and stickers along almost every single road they passed.
First stop was the Fort Cornwallis, where they had to count the number of cannons there and name the largest one — the Seri Rambai. Then it was off to the King Edward roundabout where they had to name the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower and record its height — 60ft to commemorate her 60th year of reign.
The clues also took the participants to collect spices at Little India. They also had to note down the number plate of a Scammell Scarab vehicle at the state museum and look for several specific places of business in the inner city.
While most of them wore the event’s T-shirt, a handful of participants took the trouble to dress up with the heritage theme in mind, out of their own initiative.
Cititel Penang front office assistants Nurul Nashita Mohd, 28, and Michelle Ong, 23, were dressed in matching Malay and Nyonya kebayas with batik sarong and wore beaded high-heeled slippers which they put aside during the hunt in favour of comfortable sneakers.
“We wanted to dress according to the theme and even though we may look formally dressed, we found that the cotton material of our outfits suitable for running around. We feel quite cool while some others look hot and bothered,” said Nurul Nashita.
PBB Group Bhd marketing and promotion executives Loo Ai Leen, 26, and Tunku Elisha Faitullah Tunku Usham, 25, were dressed in a cheongsam and kebaya respectively.
“We are used to being at the organising end of events but this is the first time that either of us are taking part in such an activity.
“We joined for the fun of it and found ourselves enjoying the hunt, which ended too soon,” said Tunku Elisha.
The Best Dressed prize went to Bayview Hotel Georgetown human resources assistant Stewart Choong, 22, and front office concierge Nazri Abdul Shokor, 29, who wore a red samfu and white samfu respectively.
“Being in the hotel industry, we felt we should promote Penang’s culture and heritage and so we chose to don traditional attire for the hunt,” said Choong.
The winning team with the most correct answers and best slogan — comprising Focal Concepts Sdn Bhd founder and creative director Susan Chyntana, 46, and party planner Khaw Bee Khim, 27, — was also the fastest to complete the hunt, reaching the finishing point at Bayview Hotel George-town within 54 minutes at 10.19am.
The pair, who are no strangers to treasure hunts, attributed their success to good team co-operation, including their trishaw pe-daller known as Ah Leong.
In second place were Tan Kai Chia and Tan Shing Yee of Mun Thong Crystal Sdn Bhd, while Lai Wei Siung and Choo Kam Fuat of Sentral Technology College came in third.
The Heritage Trea-Shaw Hunt was organised by Penang Global Tourism in collaboration with Impact Management, Koperasi Pelancongan (Kopel), Bayview Hotel Georgetown and Zarika Travel Sdn Bhd.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Sampling Penang’s delights
Sampling Penang’s delights
IT must be tough to keep the calories in check and stay in shape if one is a food columnist constantly exposed to an array of irresistible dishes.
But Helen Ong, Penang’s leading food writer and blogger, is taking it all in her stride.
Her secret is simply “not eating too much but just tasting it”.
Well, the rest of us will certainly find it hard to control our appetities after reading the second edition of her popular restaurant guide 'Great Dining in Penang 2' which has just been launched.
The 160-page soft cover book gives readers the lowdown on a myriad of eateries – from those in posh hotels to charming little cafes – and is packed with information and mouthwatering photographs.
Both locals and tourists will find the book a handy guide on where to eat.
For those more adventurous, there are also simple recipes one can try out.
Speaking during the launch ceremony at Golden Sands Resorts’Sigi’s Bar and Grill — one of the book’s featured outlets — on Wednesday, Ong said work on the book involved around eight months of eating, talking with people and taking lots of photographs.
Although Penang is famous for its hawker fare, diners will invariably hunger for something new after a few days, said Ong who is The Star’s Sunday Metro columnist.
Regularly facing questions from friends on where to go for a good meal, she decided to compile all the details on eateries in one easy-to-understand comprehensive tome.
“The first book was well-received, and sold all 3,000 copies.
“People would even play games with it – they would pick a number, flip to the corresponding page, and head to the particular restaurant featured on that page for a meal,” she enthused.
Ong explained that due to the competitive nature of the restaurant business, many outlets featured in her previous book had since closed down or shifted to a new location, and readers were eager for an updated version.
“It’s been hard work and even harder work eating my way through all that food but hey, someone’s got to do it!” she quipped.
State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang, who officiated the launch, said it was necessary to have a proper culinary guide book to benefit everyone.
“Her first book 'Great Dining in Penang' alerted many of us to restaurants we did not know about or had yet to patronise.
“Now we all have a better knowledge of these low-profile but good food locations and we have more lunch or dinner venues to choose from,” he added.
'Great Dining in Penang 2' is now available in leading bookshops, hotels and restaurants in Malaysia and Singapore.
For details, visit www.helenong.com.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
IT must be tough to keep the calories in check and stay in shape if one is a food columnist constantly exposed to an array of irresistible dishes.
But Helen Ong, Penang’s leading food writer and blogger, is taking it all in her stride.
Her secret is simply “not eating too much but just tasting it”.
Well, the rest of us will certainly find it hard to control our appetities after reading the second edition of her popular restaurant guide 'Great Dining in Penang 2' which has just been launched.
The 160-page soft cover book gives readers the lowdown on a myriad of eateries – from those in posh hotels to charming little cafes – and is packed with information and mouthwatering photographs.
Both locals and tourists will find the book a handy guide on where to eat.
For those more adventurous, there are also simple recipes one can try out.
Speaking during the launch ceremony at Golden Sands Resorts’Sigi’s Bar and Grill — one of the book’s featured outlets — on Wednesday, Ong said work on the book involved around eight months of eating, talking with people and taking lots of photographs.
Although Penang is famous for its hawker fare, diners will invariably hunger for something new after a few days, said Ong who is The Star’s Sunday Metro columnist.
Regularly facing questions from friends on where to go for a good meal, she decided to compile all the details on eateries in one easy-to-understand comprehensive tome.
“The first book was well-received, and sold all 3,000 copies.
“People would even play games with it – they would pick a number, flip to the corresponding page, and head to the particular restaurant featured on that page for a meal,” she enthused.
Ong explained that due to the competitive nature of the restaurant business, many outlets featured in her previous book had since closed down or shifted to a new location, and readers were eager for an updated version.
“It’s been hard work and even harder work eating my way through all that food but hey, someone’s got to do it!” she quipped.
State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang, who officiated the launch, said it was necessary to have a proper culinary guide book to benefit everyone.
“Her first book 'Great Dining in Penang' alerted many of us to restaurants we did not know about or had yet to patronise.
“Now we all have a better knowledge of these low-profile but good food locations and we have more lunch or dinner venues to choose from,” he added.
'Great Dining in Penang 2' is now available in leading bookshops, hotels and restaurants in Malaysia and Singapore.
For details, visit www.helenong.com.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Best of Thailand
Best of Thailand
A FEAST of flavours and traditions from the Land of Smiles awaits visitors at the Thai Food, Fruits and Cultural Festival 2010 at Fort Cornwallis on Aug 7 and 8.
Jointly organised by the Penang Government and the Royal Thai Consulate-General of Penang, the two-day event from 9am to 11pm daily, will feature lots of Thai musical and dance performances as well as its most popular cuisine and produce.
“Thai food is one of the most famous cuisines in the world, enjoyed by both locals and foreigners. There will be almost 40 traders taking part,” state Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang told a press conference here on Wednesday.
According to Thai Consul-General Voradet Viravakin, there will also be a Muay Thai demonstration by USM students, in addition to cultural showcases by students of Thaksin University in Thailand.
“These themed performances will be interesting and entertaining. The lights and sounds are very lively.
“There will also be an emcee to guide the audience along in both Thai and English,” Viravakin said, adding that the performers would comprise both professionals and amateurs.
He also praised the local government for their continued support in enhancing bilateral relations, saying that the best way to strengthen ties between the two nations was through people to people contact.
“Moreover, tourism has changed. Visitors don’t just come to one destination alone, as most prefer to visit a cluster of a few places at once.
“Tourists who visit Southern Thailand will want to visit Penang and vice versa. It’s a win-win situation and both countries benefit,” Viravakin added.
Local Thai traders interested in taking part in the event can call Law’s office at 04-2619012 or 016-4110000, or the consulate at 04-2268029 and 04-2269484. Entrance to the event is free.
-News courtesy of The Star-
A FEAST of flavours and traditions from the Land of Smiles awaits visitors at the Thai Food, Fruits and Cultural Festival 2010 at Fort Cornwallis on Aug 7 and 8.
Jointly organised by the Penang Government and the Royal Thai Consulate-General of Penang, the two-day event from 9am to 11pm daily, will feature lots of Thai musical and dance performances as well as its most popular cuisine and produce.
“Thai food is one of the most famous cuisines in the world, enjoyed by both locals and foreigners. There will be almost 40 traders taking part,” state Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang told a press conference here on Wednesday.
According to Thai Consul-General Voradet Viravakin, there will also be a Muay Thai demonstration by USM students, in addition to cultural showcases by students of Thaksin University in Thailand.
“These themed performances will be interesting and entertaining. The lights and sounds are very lively.
“There will also be an emcee to guide the audience along in both Thai and English,” Viravakin said, adding that the performers would comprise both professionals and amateurs.
He also praised the local government for their continued support in enhancing bilateral relations, saying that the best way to strengthen ties between the two nations was through people to people contact.
“Moreover, tourism has changed. Visitors don’t just come to one destination alone, as most prefer to visit a cluster of a few places at once.
“Tourists who visit Southern Thailand will want to visit Penang and vice versa. It’s a win-win situation and both countries benefit,” Viravakin added.
Local Thai traders interested in taking part in the event can call Law’s office at 04-2619012 or 016-4110000, or the consulate at 04-2268029 and 04-2269484. Entrance to the event is free.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Rare collection of pioneer art
Rare collection of pioneer art
ART enthusiasts and collectors in Penang will have a chance to admire the paintings of some of Malaysia’s late art pioneers at a five-day The Prelude exhibition starting tomorrow.
Among the great works to be featured by Henry Butcher at Alpha Utara Gallery on China Street are the late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein’s 1969 acrylic painting, The Dream, and the late father of batik painting Datuk Chuah Thean Teng’s unusual batik work, Two Cockerels and a Hen.
Henry Butcher Malaysia Group honorary chairman Tan Sri Kamal Hashim said Penang had produced some of Malaysia’s finest pioneers and veteran artists back in the early 1900s.
“It is only natural that we host The Prelude exhibition here following its official opening in Kuala Lumpur recently,” he said.
The exhibition will feature 23 artworks including masterpieces by late veterans like Yong Mun Sen, Datuk Mohd. Hoessein Enas, Khaw Sia, Kuo Ju Ping and Lee Cheng Yong.
Yong’s Bridge, a rare 1948 watercolour painting of two women balancing baskets on their heads on a rickety makeshift bridge, was believed to depict new threats from the communist insurgency that followed the upheaval of the Japanese Occupation.
Coffee Shop (1963) by Kuo is a well- composed oil on canvas work portraying the unique hawker culture of Penangites while Khaw’s famous life-like orchid paintings will be sold as twin renditions of the same size, namely the White Orchids I and White Orchids II.
The Prelude exhibition will run until July 7 from 10am to 6pm.
An auction featuring some 60 to 80 artworks including those exhibited at The Prelude, will be held on Aug 8 at Wisma Bentley Music, Mutiara Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
Kamal said although the works comprised mainly those by pioneers and veterans, a good selection of contemporary paintings by younger artists would also be put on the block.
Henry Butcher’s auction of modern and contemporary art collection is arguably Malaysia’s largest and first professionally run auction dedicated exclusively to Malaysian art.
-News courtesy of The Star-
ART enthusiasts and collectors in Penang will have a chance to admire the paintings of some of Malaysia’s late art pioneers at a five-day The Prelude exhibition starting tomorrow.
Among the great works to be featured by Henry Butcher at Alpha Utara Gallery on China Street are the late Datuk Ibrahim Hussein’s 1969 acrylic painting, The Dream, and the late father of batik painting Datuk Chuah Thean Teng’s unusual batik work, Two Cockerels and a Hen.
Henry Butcher Malaysia Group honorary chairman Tan Sri Kamal Hashim said Penang had produced some of Malaysia’s finest pioneers and veteran artists back in the early 1900s.
“It is only natural that we host The Prelude exhibition here following its official opening in Kuala Lumpur recently,” he said.
The exhibition will feature 23 artworks including masterpieces by late veterans like Yong Mun Sen, Datuk Mohd. Hoessein Enas, Khaw Sia, Kuo Ju Ping and Lee Cheng Yong.
Yong’s Bridge, a rare 1948 watercolour painting of two women balancing baskets on their heads on a rickety makeshift bridge, was believed to depict new threats from the communist insurgency that followed the upheaval of the Japanese Occupation.
Coffee Shop (1963) by Kuo is a well- composed oil on canvas work portraying the unique hawker culture of Penangites while Khaw’s famous life-like orchid paintings will be sold as twin renditions of the same size, namely the White Orchids I and White Orchids II.
The Prelude exhibition will run until July 7 from 10am to 6pm.
An auction featuring some 60 to 80 artworks including those exhibited at The Prelude, will be held on Aug 8 at Wisma Bentley Music, Mutiara Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
Kamal said although the works comprised mainly those by pioneers and veterans, a good selection of contemporary paintings by younger artists would also be put on the block.
Henry Butcher’s auction of modern and contemporary art collection is arguably Malaysia’s largest and first professionally run auction dedicated exclusively to Malaysian art.
-News courtesy of The Star-
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