Art, Exhibition, George Town, Heritage, Photography, Travel

A gift to alma mater

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Image courtesy of Lim Siang Jin

Southeast Asia’s oldest English-medium school – Penang Free School (PFS) – on Penang island, was founded in 1816.

The many luminaries who have graced its halls include Malaysian prime ministers, chief ministers, captains of industry, media titans, musicians and those in the creative and performing arts, legal eagles, religious and grassroots leaders and the list goes on.

Image courtesy of Lim Siang Jin

Over the years, many sons of PFS have given back to their alma mater in various ways.

Self-taught artist Lim Siang Jin, is one such son, whose association with PFS has ranged on various platforms.

Image courtesy of Lim Siang Jin

Until recently, the Kuala Lumpur-based Siang Jin, has been only showing his works to family and friends.

He returns to his hometown Penang this week to pay tribute to his former school.

His latest solo: “Our Legacy: Landmark Memories of Penang Free School”, starts today till Oct 3, at The Old Frees’ Association in conjunction with the school’s centenary celebrations.

The exhibition consists of 31 black-and-white prints, each with a write-up by the artist.

Image courtesy of Lim Siang Jin

Siang Jin spent some three decades deeply involved in work, mainly in publishing, communications, branding and marketing.

He was, for example, a founder director of The Edge. He went on to head the media business of Nexnews Bhd that owned the business weekly and theSun.

His website says that in all these endeavours, he continued to take an active interest in the “backroom”, in the production and creative processes of the business.

“Like his art, his work, from publishing to management, is girded by the ideas of Quality, Timing and Aufhebung (the idea that every new development is an inextricable combination of the old and new).”

Siang Jin held his first solo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur in October 2022 where he exhibited some 70 pieces; all these were created during the Covid years (2020-2022).

While his favourite artists, and therefore his main influences, are mainly Western-modern (notably Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Matisse, Miro, Klee and Kandinsky), he continues to innovate.

This is especially apparent in the digital-analog creative space where he combines his experience in painting, photography and media production.

Image courtesy of Lim Siang Jin

(“Our Legacy: Landmark Memories of Penang Free School”, will be showcased from 10am-5pm at The Old Frees’ Association, 41 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Penang)

And the gifting continues …

The interactive Free School Guide is available in PDF form. Just click on the subheadings to access the system, and forward all these to people who may be interested in Penang Free School. The 10 sets of “Explore!” questions are to draw them to different parts of the Guide.

(Another gift to his alma mater by Lim Siang Jin and schoolmate SS Quah)

https://ssquah.blogspot.com/2023/10/free-school-guide-launched.html?m=1

(24/2/2024 – update from SiangJin)

I had my second solo, “Our Legacy: Landmark Memories of Penang Free School”, last September at The Old Frees’ Association in Penang in conjunction with the OFA’s Centenary. I am pleased to inform that I will have it in Kuala Lumpur too. The following are the details:

Date: March 1-31, 2024
Venue: Jin’s Art Gallery, Unit A-3-17, Centrio Pantai Hillpark, 1 Jalan Pantai Murni, 59200 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Weekends 10am to 5pm. Weekdays by appointment (please call 019 2219680)

George Town, Photography, Sea, Style, Travel

Still flying high …

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The meals may have been way below their past award-winning and ‘atas’ levels, and much has already been said about it in past weeks.

While the airline sorts out its catering dramas, let’s continue to focus and support our national flag carrier – Malaysia Airlines – for its outstanding crew, new planes and all things that remain amazing about Malaysian Hospitality (MH).

Thank you MH1148 for bringing us home safely and on-time today. If there were any food issues to a destination like Penang (which we did not experience), most residents were more focussed on the nasi kandar and char kuay teow awaiting them on this isle of foodies.

George Town

Aishah’s food stories

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We used to chase headlines and bylines up till two decades ago. Esah as she is fondly known (by me) had a great nose for news and could be counted on to deliver updates in a timely and accurate manner, as befitting scribes at our national news agency, Bernama.

Today, she presents something else altogether to her audience. This home cook and excellent baker has proven her worth over many festive open houses we have been invited to.

She seems to have come full circle and operates a stall at the very spot we journalists used to hang out for breakfasts and countless cups of teh-tarik and kueh at teatime!

Next time you are in Pulau Tikus, swing by Jones Road (off Kelawei or Burma roads) before 2pm from Monday to Friday (except on public holidays).

Siti Aishah will welcome you with a warm smile and delicious grub. You can also find her at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100038859587085&mibextid=LQQJ4d

P.S Her made-to-order rendangs and frozen curry puffs (which can be air fried) have received the thumbs up and even been on road trips to neighbouring states in their frozen form.

Eats, George Town, Homes, Photography, Style

Nailing a good sugee cake

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It is not a place one associates with great sugee (semolina) cake, but this is Penang, and you just never know what lies behind a door, the side of a backlane or even a monsoon drain here!

In this case, it’s a grand mansion by-the-sea, known simply as 32 Mansion. I always admire businesses with simple names coined from their addresses or postcodes. (the street address being 32 Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah).

A visit to this 1920s sea-fronting Italian villa, is a history lesson in itself …

(Extracted from the business operator’s website)

BUILT FOR LEONG YIN KEAN, THE SON OF TIN MAGNATE LEONG FEE, WHO HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ITALY WHILST A STUDENT AT CAMBRIDGE, THIS ELEGANT ITALIANATE VILLA ON GEORGE TOWN’S NORTH BEACH LOOKS OUT OVER GARDENS ONTO THE SEA.
IT WAS DESIGNED BY CHARLES MILLER (OF STARK & MCNEILL) AND IS LOCATED ON “MILLIONAIRE’S ROW” (NORTHAM ROAD BUT NOW RENAMED JALAN SULTAN AHMAD SHAH).

THE MANSION WAS BUILT IN 1926 AND MODELED AFTER THE OPULENT VILLAS IN LONDON’S REGENT’S PARK. SADLY, LIKE MANY OF PENANG’S MANSIONS, IT FELL INTO A STATE OF DISREPAIR AND HAD BEEN USED AS A MOTOR-BIKE CENTRE CALLED BIKER’S PARADISE AND HAD AS MANY AS 30 TENANTS LIVING IN PARTITIONED BLOCKS ALONG ITS ONCE ELEGANT ROOMS.


RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY IN 2000 BY ESCOY HOLDINGS IT IS A MODEL OF HERITAGE CONSERVATION BY ADAPTIVE RE-USE AND IT NOW HOUSES THIRTY-TWO AT THE MANSION AND BEACH BLANKET BABYLON.

Back to their sugee cake … it can be found on Beach Blanket Babylon, or BBB’s dessert menu or pre-ordered as a fresh and buttery takeaway (it’s advisable to order the full-sized sugee cake at least 3 days ahead).

While BBB is better known for its crab laksa, the humble sugee cake has received equal praise from those who appreciate this baked goodness, for which many Eurasian, Peranakan, Chinese and Indian aunties (and uncles) guard the recipes fiercely.

Step into the home so cosily and welcoming created by Kah Hock, for either a slice of his sugee cake or the rest of the great spread offered.

Walk away with not only a satisfied meal, but endless shots of this great home and (it’s grounds) for your countless Instagram and other social media posts!

Eats, Festivals, George Town, Heritage, Music

Fiesta with the Eurasians

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What better way to celebrate Merdeka 🇲🇾month and shed state polls fatigue, than by coming together as family, friends, Penang residents and visitors for samplings of great Serani fare found usually in Eurasian homes and kitchens.

Bravo Penang Eurasian Association for organising the fiesta and to the La Salle Brothers for remaining gracious hosts in allowing the event to be held in Southeast Asia’s oldest Lasallian school. #eurasianfiesta2023 #stxaviersinstitution #penang #serani #sugeecake #pibeapplejamtarts #saltedfishpickle #devilcurry #PEA

George Town

Honing the power and possibilities of art in a city

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It’s baaaack!

Save the dates from July 15-30 for yet another edition of the George Town Festival (GTF).

‘Celebrating the Power and Possibilities of the Arts in the City’ is the theme adopted for this 14th edition of what continues to be a promised spectacular celebration of art, culture, and heritage for all to experience.

The festival presents a myriad of outstanding artistic works by Malaysian and international artists, (including those from Penang) featuring productions across varied art forms ranging from traditional, contemporary, experimental, and multidisciplinary.

“This makes George Town Festival 2023 the most exciting iteration in recent years, bridging tangible and intangible heritage through continued global artistic partnership and exchange,” its organisers said in a statement.

GTF was first mooted in 2010 to honour George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

Over a decade later, the festival continues to elevate the visibility of the city’s heritage while creating spaces and platforms for increased cultural engagement through the arts.

“Since its inaugural edition, GTF has become a hallmark event in Malaysia and remains an avenue for creatives, festival-goers and stakeholders to engage with the arts and one another, spurring discussions, bilateral relations, and increased collaborations through and for the arts,” say it’s organisers.

Currently in its 14th edition, GTF 2023 features over 50 programmes with free access to 70% of its shows and events.

The programme line-up (https://georgetownfestival.com/2023/programmes_/the-monkey-king-adventures-love-of-onibaba/# ) includes several premiering and debut productions, indigenous-ethnic-cultural performances, digital installations, books and game launches, community-based events, and a series of arts masterclasses, workshops, and forums.

They will be spread across 20 over locations in George Town and the wider Penang area.

To further stimulate global artistic partnerships, GTF 2023 will facilitate performances and events between artists from East and West Malaysia and creative exchange with Taiwan and Australia.

This year, the festival is partnering with the Australian High Commission as a channel to honour the 50th-anniversary celebration of George Town and Adelaide as sister cities.

A highlight of this is ‘The Senses’ which will present a sensory and immersive musical experience within the naturescapes of Penang Hill’s 130-million-year-old rainforest.

In its effort to deepen awareness and appreciation of traditional art forms, GTF 2023 also includes several ethnic-traditional cultural performances to help elevate the visibility of intangible heritage in Penang and beyond.

Highlights in the programme are Panggung Semar, bhumiMATA, and The Monkey King Adventures: Love of Onibaba.

George Town Festival 2023 is a project by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), organised by TLM Event, and endorsed by the Penang State Government and the Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy.

It is fully supported by the City Council of Penang Island and Penang Global Tourism.

(all images courtesy of George Town Festival)

George Town

Ode to Miss Oh

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Ballet pioneer and respected teacher Oh Eng Sim, died over a week ago in Penang and has left a legacy of generosity, discipline, kindness and community service.

Miss Oh as she was known among her ballet students at the Oh Eng Sim School of Dancing, had always cut a tall and elegant figure in cheongsams when she was not teaching, and instilled many good traits in her students who had turned up to pay their last respects. Some of these students and friends were also a part of her life once she retired and went to a nursing home.

Dance teachers have always been known to give, give and give, by sharing their knowledge, passion and joy.

Apart from the gratitude felt by her former students whom Oh had spent hours with at her school showing them steps, coaching them to be better and instilling valuable life lessons, a whole community is also mourning her passing.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Penang owes her a sea of appreciation for her generosity for one of its parish projects.

She was the most substantial donor of the church’s multi-million parish centre, whose hall is named after her.

“Because of her, we were able to kickstart the project and build the centre,” former parish priest Father Michael Cheah said when presiding over her funeral mass last Saturday.

“She lived her life well, by contributing to society as a good parishioner and daughter of God.

“She deserves her reward in heaven and may very well open up a ballet school up there for the angels,” he said during his homily.

Mindful of the fact that Oh had spent over a decade of her life in a nursing home before her passing, Fr Cheah added:

“She has shown us how to leave this world happily and with a peaceful exit.”

Which now begs the question of how the rest of us wish to be remembered when our time comes, and the kind of footprints we will leave behind.

In a Facebook post, Malaysian choreographer Joseph Victor Gonzales, who described Oh as a Malaysian pioneer and legendary ballet teacher and choreographer, said:

“Thank you for everything and the generations you taught. Malaysia was blessed. Rest in peace Ms Oh.”

Ends.

Mainly tales from Penang