George Town Festival showcases Penang’s vibrant visual arts scene
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THE Penang government is inviting the public to immerse themselves in the diverse visual arts offerings of the George Town Festival (GTF) 2026, with exhibitions by local artists transforming heritage spaces across the city into creative hubs throughout August.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the visual arts programme reflects the festival’s commitment to showcasing bold, contemporary artistic expressions while complementing its wide range of performances, music, installations and cultural events.
Wolf speaking to reporters during the press conference.
Speaking during a media visit to several GTF 2026 visual arts venues at China House, Hikayat and Cultprint today, Wong said the festival continues to present a rich and varied programme that caters to different artistic interests.
“George Town Festival is not only about music and performances. We have projection mapping at the Town Hall under the Heritage in Motion programme, installation art at the Macallum Field, and today we are highlighting the visual arts component.
“At China House, five young Malaysian artists are presenting a joint exhibition featuring different themes and artistic interpretations. This represents the spirit of George Town Festival,” he said.
Wong noted that the visual arts featured in this year’s festival embrace a distinctly contemporary approach, moving beyond conventional artistic styles.
“The works are very contemporary, even postmodern. They are not the traditional type of oil paintings but brave and imaginative creations by young artists. This is exactly the kind of creativity that George Town Festival aims to promote,” he added.
He encouraged the public to explore the various exhibitions, noting that the festival offers something new almost every day throughout its run.
“Every day there is a programme taking place. While we cannot invite the media to every event because there are so many, we want to encourage the public to visit these visual art exhibitions at ChinaHouse, Hikayat and Cultprint as part of the George Town Festival experience,” he said.
Wong standing near to the artwork by one of the artists.
Among the featured exhibitions is “Shifting Whispers” at ChinaHouse, a multidisciplinary exhibition by artistic collective Parallax running from Aug 1 to Aug 9. The exhibition brings together five Malaysian artists, Thanesh Kichi, Rozeree Mohamed, Siti Gunong, Plengpin Khunwang and Norfatihah Yusof, through a unique “Core and Canopy” concept that explores identity, landscape and the interconnectedness between people and their environments.
At Hikayat, visitors can experience “Collodion, Silver, Glass: Contemporary Wet Plate Photography” by Steve Tan, Malaysia’s only professional photographer specialising in the historic wet plate collodion technique.
Running until Aug 30, the exhibition showcases still-life photography produced on glass plates, offering visitors a rare glimpse into one of photography’s oldest processes.
Meanwhile, Cultprint on Lebuh Melayu is hosting “The Natural History Museum of Yeahnahnesia”, a collaborative exhibition by artist duo Yok and Sheryo. Running until Oct 4, the immersive exhibition presents an imagined island civilisation through paintings, sculptures, installations and environmental design, inviting visitors to explore its unique traditions, culture and natural history.
Wong also highlighted the encouraging public response to Penang’s recent heritage attractions, particularly the Penang State Museum and Fort Cornwallis, which reopened recently.
“For the past nine days, we have welcomed more than 13,000 visitors to the museum alone. Yesterday recorded about 3,000 visitors in a single day, which is remarkable.
“Many members of the public told me they visited the Penang State Museum, Fort Cornwallis and George Town Festival over the weekend, all with free admission. They were very happy because they could enjoy three attractions in one trip,” he said.
He added that free admission to the Penang State Museum will continue until Aug 31, allowing even more visitors to discover the state’s rich heritage.
According to Wong, the Penang government is strengthening its cultural tourism offerings by linking heritage conservation, museums and arts festivals into a year-round experience for locals and tourists alike.
“July was our Heritage Month with the reopening of Fort Cornwallis and the State Museum. August is Geor
