Good ol’ Penang. The Pearl of the Orient, home to delicious char kuey teow, and now, to give your camera purpose with all its amazing murals. Not all those who wander are lost and if you’re in Georgetown, you’ll find yourself among all its unassuming glory.
Since listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, Penang’s vibrant capital has evolved into a world-class spectacle with a lot of excitement surrounding its street art. Over the years the murals have multiplied with different artists adding more colour, life and significance to the walls of Georgetown.
Year after year droves of tourists from around the world have come, seen and snapped – making Penang’s street art a popular attraction for shutterbugs. With so many unique murals to awe over, here are a few that literally stand out for picture-worthy memories that will make your visit all in tune.
Boy On A Motorcycle
Boy On A Motorcycle by Ernest Zacharevic – Penang Street Arts
Hitch a ride and hang on tight to this famous piece by Ernest Zacharevic which incorporates a painting of a boy who looks as though he’s sitting on an actual installation of a motorbike. You can find this popular artwork close to the Jalan Pantai Junction along Ah Quee Street.
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Kids on a Bicycle
Kids on a Bicycle by Ernest Zacharevic – Penang Street Arts
Here’s another popular piece by Zacharevic located at the junction of Lebuh Pantai. Allow your creative juices to flow and imagine the incredible ways to interact with this one. Or you could just pretend to sit on the back of the bike like most people do.
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I Want Bao!
I Want Bao – Penang Street Arts by Ernest Zacharevic | Picture Credit: Aditi Shukla/Tripzilla
In the same vein as Zacharevic’s trademark practice of creating interaction between mural and the urban landscape, this was actually done by WK Setor. It’s located next to the famous patisserie Ming Xiang Tai at Armenian Street right before the Lebuh Victoria junction. What could really bring life to this piece is if you were pictured eating a real bao ‘fresh’ from the bun steamers.
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Brother and Sister On Swing
Brother and Sister On Swing – Penang Street Arts by Louis Gan
This interactive display of art by Louis Gan allows you to pose on the empty swing next to the children. Get swinging and head over to Step by Step lane for a good shot of this one.
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Children Playing Basketball
Children Playing Basketball – Penang Street Arts by Louis Gan
Break a sweat and play a pretend game of basketball with another one by Louis Gan.
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Boy Reaching Up
Boy Reaching Up – Penang Street Arts by Ernest Zacharevic
Ernest Zacharevic does it again with his murals and spontaneous response to the environment – in which case is the chair. Want to give this boy a lending hand with whatever it is he’s reaching for? Then head over to Cannon Street!
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While all above may be on the top of the list for art lovers, there are lots of other Penang tourist attractions to check out as well. And to make sure you get a good night’s rest, book yourself into Tune Hotel Georgetown, your choice for the perfect hotel in Penang that offers you 5-star comfort, convenience and value.
For easier reference, check out our walking route from Tune Hotel Georgetown Penang to all the street art attractions listed above.
Happy snapping!
Check out: Top 6 Things to Do in Penang at Night