An art mural featuring the iconic Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Merdeka portrait spotted at the Smiling Buffalo cafe at Victoria Street in George Town.
31 August is Hari Merdeka or National Day in Malaysia, also known as the Independence Day.
George Town Festival 2026, held from 1–9 August, once again transformed George Town into a vibrant celebration of art, culture and heritage under the theme “Beyond Boundaries.” Among the memorable highlights was Remembering Azmi, a moving outdoor short documentary that premiered on 8 August at Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, celebrating the life, art and legacy of beloved Penang cartoonist Azmi Hussin through the memories of his family, friends and collaborators. The festival also brought traditional and contemporary cultural experiences into George Town’s historic spaces, from shadow puppetry and giant puppets to film, music, theatre, dance, projection art and international collaborations, showing how Penang’s rich heritage continues to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in its community.
One of the most eye-catching attractions at Cultprint is the Miniature Car Gallery, an ingenious art installation housed inside a vintage white Proton parked outside the gallery. Instead of a conventional car interior, the cabin has been transformed into a fully realized miniature contemporary art gallery, complete with tiny exhibition walls, lighting, artworks, sculptures and even miniature visitors. Developed in collaboration with Swiss artist Laurin Guedel at approximately 1:10 scale, the installation challenges perceptions of space and scale while demonstrating that contemporary art can thrive in the most unexpected places.
Conceived as a “gallery within a gallery”, the project was originally introduced as part of Cultprint’s Subculture exhibition, with plans for the Proton to eventually become a mobile gallery capable of bringing miniature art to different locations around Penang. Today, the unique installation remains a delightful surprise for visitors and has quickly become one of George Town’s most photographed hidden gems, inviting passers-by to pause, peer through the windscreen, and discover an entire world in miniature.
This art installation can be found at Lebuh Melayu (Malay Street) in front of Cultprint in George Town.
Above mural at Nagore Road was created by Thai artist Alex Face, one amongst many of his art works in various parts of George Town.
An AR-enabled mural beside IKEA Batu Kawan at Ikano Centres adds a new interactive art spot in Penang, touted as the state’s second-largest outdoor painted mural. Created by Ikano Centres and IKEA Batu Kawan for the Creative Spark Batu Kawan initiative, the piece, titled “Building Yourself”, was produced with Can Can Public Art and painted by artist Leonard Siaw with support from three mentored art graduates. Visitors can activate the augmented reality effects by scanning a QR code on-site, standing on a marked spot, and pointing a phone at the mural to see it “come alive,” while the artwork’s theme highlights modern ambition, mutual support, and Batu Kawan’s growth as a township full of possibilities.
In the heart of George Town, a new mural at Armenian Street has turned heads while spreading an important message — “Love Our Turtles”. Launched as part of a month-long campaign (Aug 15 – Sept 14, 2025) by the IKHTIAR Foundation and proudly sponsored by ecoBrown’s, the artwork blends Penang’s cultural vibrancy with a call to protect endangered sea turtles and our oceans. More than just street art, this mural is part of a larger conservation movement, reminding visitors and locals alike that preserving marine life is as vital as celebrating heritage. The artwork is located just across the “Children on Bicycle” mural.
Hidden within the U.A.B Building’s courtyard, two miniature figures from Cement Eclipses can be found facing the courtyard’s mini garden.
For other figures and their locations, please refer HERE.
Terang, meaning “bright” in Malay, is a projection mapping spectacle by the Malaysian digital art collective Filamen. The showcase reimagines George Town’s historic Town Hall by turning its colonial facade into a radiant display of digital artistry, blending light, motion, and colour to create an immersive visual experience. This event will end tonight, as part of the George Town festival activities.
“Terang”, the centerpiece of After Dusk at George Town Festival 2025, was a breathtaking projection mapping show by digital art collective Filamen, displayed on the historic Town Hall at Padang Kota Lama. Using vibrant visuals and dynamic light, the installation explored the festival’s Rojak theme—celebrating Malaysia’s diverse cultural layers—by blending heritage architecture with cutting-edge digital storytelling. It wasn’t just a light show, but a sensory experience that transformed the colonial facade into a luminous canvas of identity, imagination, and shared memory.
This event now runs till 10th August from 8-11pm at the Penang Town Hall, near the Esplanade.
IMMERSIOx is an interactive event held from August 2 – 10, 2025 at the UAB Building in George Town (11 AM–7:30 PM, free admission) and is part of the 2025 George Town Festival. This bold digital art exhibition brings the immersive future to Penang—featuring interactive installations, projection mapping, and new-media artworks that invite visitors to explore, touch, and engage with space and perception in fresh ways. Curated by Filamen, the showcase is part of GTF 2025 and serves as a dynamic platform for emerging local and international digital artists. It’s a tactile, full-body experience designed to blur the lines between art and reality.
