Converge 匯聚

Emerging from the earth like a living organism, “Converge” by Taiwanese artist Kuei-Chih Lee transforms Taman Kejiranan Macallum into a space where nature, people, and the city come together.

Inspired by George Town’s history as a port city shaped by migration and cultural exchange, the large-scale installation reflects on coexistence through five sculptural forms that rise organically from the ground. Intertwining like a growing settlement, the structures merge into a single collective form, echoing the many communities, languages, and traditions that have long flourished in Penang.

Crafted from natural materials gathered from the western side of Penang Island and installed within the urban landscape of George Town, “Converge” creates a dialogue between two contrasting landscapes. Skylight-like openings invite light, wind, and the sky into the sculptures, transforming them into porous, breathable spaces where visitors can pause, reflect, and connect with one another.

More than a public artwork, “Converge” invites us to reimagine the city as a living ecosystem—one where culture, community, and nature are not separate, but grow, evolve, and breathe together.

「一座從土地中生長而起的自然雕塑,在城市之中生成一處共同呼吸的場所。」

作品設置於馬來西亞檳城喬治市的五條路鄰裡公園。這座城市因海洋而開展,也因移民而豐富,多元族群、語言與宗教在此長期共存,不同生活方式彼此交融,成為一處持續匯聚、共同生活的場所。

作品以「城市與自然」作為創作的起點,五座雕塑彷彿自土地緩緩生長而出,彼此交融、共享邊界,如同一個持續生長的聚落。它們沒有明確的分界,而是在相互滲透之中形成整體,映照不同族群與文化長時間共居共生的狀態。

雕塑的形態源自植物的生長邏輯,自地表向上萌發。每座雕塑頂部皆留有如天井般的開口,使光、風、天空與人的身體得以自由穿行。外部呈現聚合生長的姿態,內部則形成多孔隙、可呼吸的空間結構,使雕塑不只是被觀看的物件,更成為一處可停留、可感知、可相遇的自然棲地。

作品採用檳城島西部的自然材料,置於東部高度都市化的喬治市,讓材料跨越島嶼不同地景,在城市與自然之間建立新的連結。作品並非將自然置入城市,而是在城市中開啟一處重新感知自然的空間,使自然重新成為日常生活的一部分。

在快速發展與全球化交織的今日,作品關注不同生命、文化與自然如何在同一片土地上建立長時間的共棲關係。城市因此不只是建築與道路的集合,更是一處讓人、自然與文化共同生活、共同呼吸的場所。

“Converge” is part of the Isle to Isle series, presented by George Town Festival in partnership with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.

[Artist sharing]
Converge: Work with Nature

Date: 3 August 2026 (Monday)
Time: 3pm
Venue: The Whiteaways Arcade
Free admission but pre-registration is required.

Join Taiwanese artist Kuei-Chih Lee for an intimate sharing session exploring the ideas, inspirations, and creative processes behind “Converge”—a site-specific installation that reflects on the relationship between nature, culture, and community.

Drawing from his long-standing practice of working with natural materials, Lee will share how the surrounding environment, local landscapes, and George Town’s multicultural heritage shaped the creation of “Converge”. Through his artistic approach, which embraces collaboration with nature rather than control over it, audiences will gain insight into how organic materials, traditional craftsmanship, and contemporary art come together to form meaningful connections between people and place.

This session offers a deeper look into the journey behind the artwork, from the gathering of materials to the transformation of Taman Kejiranan Macallum into a space for reflection, interaction, and collective experience.

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