Warna Warni George Town
Publication / Visual Art
Renowned Malaysian artist Azmi Hussin captures the essence of Penang’s rich cultural diversity in Warna Warni George Town, a colouring book of historical buildings and key sites within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. With his keen eye for detail and artistic flair, Azmi transforms these architectural marvels into stunning illustrations that represent the spirit of Penang’s tangible heritage. The book is a compilation of buildings dating from the late 19th century to recent years, all of which have served a range of purposes and facilitated varied interactions across generations. This includes India House, the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Masjid Kapitan Keling and Campbell Street Market, one of the two community markets in the inner city.
Whether you are a budding artist, history buff, or simply someone who loves to explore new places, this colouring book is a perfect way to discover the rich cultural heritage in the inner city of George Town.
Note from the Artist
The idea for Warna Warni George Town stems from my research on buildings in foreign countries, where besides their architectural characteristics, they are also appreciated for their vibrant colours, designs, and patterns. Penang has many heritage buildings with architectural significance, but they are primarily white. While some are already in colour, like ‘The Blue Mansion,’ I wondered, why blue? Why couldn’t it be pink or green? This colouring book offers people to tap into their creativity and (re)imagine our heritage buildings, giving us a glimpse into the varied representations of what our tangible heritage can look like.
About the Artist
Mohd Azmi Bin Mohd Hussin, or ‘Azmi Hussin’, hails from Butterworth, Penang. Wearing many hats, Azmi is a cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator, muralist, colouring book artist, and coffee painter. Azmi has made a name for himself in the industry for the past decade, including his inscription in the Malaysia Book of Records (2017, 2019 & 2021) and the Asia Book of Records (2022). He is also the author of five cartoon books: Tanjong Life (2015), The Little Mamak (2016), The Little Mamak: Lost in Bagan (2017), Tanjong Life: The New Norm (2021) and Tanjong Life: Back to the 90s (2022). His second cartoon book, The Little Mamak, was listed among the 50 ‘Malaysia Best Titles’ by the National Book Council, representing Malaysia at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. For his contributions to the industry, Azmi received the ‘Pekomik KEMBARA Award’ from the Persatuan Penggiat Komik (PEKOMIK) Malaysia in 2018 and the ‘Tokoh Kartunis Pulau Pinang’ award by RKKM in 2021.
Warna Warni Workshop
Dates: 23 & 30 July 2023
Time: 10.00am
Venue: 23 July 2023 | India House
30 July 2023 | Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Participants: 30 max
Recommended Ages: 13 and above
Registration fee: RM20 (includes a copy of Warna Warni George Town colouring book)
With a successful career spanning a decade, Azmi Hussin, a professional artist, leads two colouring workshops in conjunction with the publication of his latest book, Warna Warni George Town. Each workshop is a unique learning opportunity with Azmi and provides an avenue to enhance your artistic skills, explore creativity, and reimagination while deepening your appreciation for our local tangible heritage.
These sessions are open to participants aged 13 and above. Please register in the link below. Kindly note that the registration fee includes a copy of Azmi’s latest publication, Warna Warni George Town, which can be collected on the day.
Inspirations from the Southeast — Penang, Malaysia
Date: 22 & 23 July 2023
Time: 2.00pm & 5.00pm
Venue: GSC Cinema, Gurney Plaza
Inspirations from the Southeast is a captivating documentary series featuring places in Southeast Asia, the region in the south of Taiwan. By blending the old with the new, the documentary captures the wisdom of Southeast Asia countries and their histories, providing insight into the significance of preserving one’s own culture. The current screening focuses on Penang, Malaysia, with an exposition on the city makers of George Town. As a UNESCO World Heritage city, the residents of George Town aim to make their city a living heritage. Whether it’s the stained walls of the street houses, the smells of various spices in the market, or the sound of the Songkok maker paddling the sewing machine, these essential historical and cultural elements of Penang are making the old city new. By portraying the stories of the living heritage, the documentary offers perspectives on everyday life and how city makers continuously shape and transform our experiences of tangible and intangible heritage within the city.
Dates:
23 & 30 July 2023
Time:
10.00am
Venue:
23 July 2023 | India House
30 July 2023 | Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Registration Fee:
RM20 (includes a copy of Warna Warni George Town)
Recommended Ages:
13 and above
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