PENANG is strengthening its position as a destination with cultural depth through the development of arts and creative infrastructure, says state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
Speaking at the award presentation ceremony and opening of the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery Photography Competition 2026 Exhibition at The Light Waterfront in Gelugor today, Wong said attractions such as the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery play an important role in enhancing Penang’s tourism appeal beyond connectivity and gastronomy.
“As we prepare for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Penang continues to strengthen its tourism ecosystem. While improved connectivity and hotel capacity are important, what makes a destination memorable is what it offers beyond that,” he said.
“A gallery of this scale and ambition gives visitors and residents a reason to come to this part of Penang specifically and adds real weight to the case for Penang as a state with cultural depth, not only convenient flight connections and good food.”
Wong said the state had recently opened the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre to reinforce its position as a leading meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination in northern Malaysia, while Penang’s food scene had also gained recognition through the MICHELIN Guide and China’s Dianping platform.
He said cultural attractions would complement these developments by providing visitors with meaningful experiences and encouraging longer stays.
The photography competition, themed “Harmony of Art and Architecture”, was held from March 1 to May 31 and invited participants to capture the relationship between the gallery’s distinctive architecture and artistic identity.
According to Wong, the competition received an encouraging response, attracting 155 participants who submitted 458 sets of photographs comprising a total of 2,290 images.
“After several rounds of judging, 33 winning entries were selected. The strong participation reflects genuine public interest in engaging with the gallery and appreciating its artistic and architectural qualities,” he said.
Wong also commended the organisers, namely Professor Lin Xiang Xiong and the Photographic Society of Penang, for creating a platform that encourages public appreciation of art through photography.
“The idea behind this competition is that art should engage with everyday life. Through photography, people are able to capture the warmth and beauty of a space, while also finding moments of calm amid the fast pace of modern life,” he said.
Widely regarded as one of the largest private art galleries in Southeast Asia, the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery opened in December 2025 and is recognised as the world’s first turtle-shaped over-water art gallery.
Located at The Light Waterfront, the 8,000-square-metre gallery houses more than 300 artworks by renowned artist Professor Lin Xiang Xiong.
The Photography Competition 2026 Exhibition, featuring winning and selected entries, will be open to the public until Aug 18.
