For those of us blessed to receive his morning greetings with images of Penang or any place David ST Loh travels to, the world takes on an amazing and refreshing view.
That’s because when this photojournalist takes you along on his journeys, he shows you completely different angles of places you may even be living next to, but never quite appreciated before.
And so it was last year with his ‘Over Penang Photography Exhibition’ during the George Town Festival, where those who visited, were given a visual treat of Penang via drone photography.
A natural progression to the exhibition is about to be unveiled next week.
A coffee table book “Over Penang” will be available from July 1 and here’s a blurb from the book penned by my dear friend Bettina Chua Abdullah …
“Here is a singularly new perspective of a vibrant, historical and fascinating Penang: captured by an eye in the sky that whirred over lands where hundreds of years ago scattered souls formed communities and built lives. Here is what an island of enterprise and toil, of majesty and enchantment looks like, from way up where the air currents flow. Each image is accompanied by a long-form text that brings intimacy to the scale and lends depth to the subject. Skimming clay-baked rooftops and cacophonous processions, each page of Over Penang is photojournalist David ST Loh’s unique view on his much-loved island home.”
The pages from the new publication found in this blog post, have been generously supplied by David as a curtain-raiser to the book, which will serve as yet another great souvenir of Penang one can treasure and/or gift to Penangites at heart.
Congratulations and thank you David Loh, for raising the bar (yet again) in taking the promotion of Penang to a whole new level!
(Over Penang will be available at all reputable bookstores in Malaysia and Singapore from 7 July, 2019. Please check back with this post on how you can place your online orders after 31 July 2019. If you are visiting Penang or blessed enough to live on this island, pop over to Hikayat at 226, Lebuh Pantai, George Town and grab a copy or more!)
“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul” (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Southeast Asia’s oldest Anglican church – St George’s Church in Penang – has received a bicentennial blessing this year in the form of a pipe organ, the most majestic of all instruments.
The 1,050-pipe Mander organ joins the ranks of its “neighbour” – the Church of Assumption along George Town’s Lebuh Farquhar, in hosting its very own pipe organ.
With the consecration of the beautiful new instrument at St George’s this morning by the Anglican Bishop of West Malaysia and Archbishop of the Anglican Church of the Province of South East Asia, the Most Reverand Datuk Ng Moon Hing, Penang island now has the distinction of being home to two glorious pipe organs found in two heritage churches on the same street in the Unesco heritage core zone!
“The character of Anglican worship revolves around congregational singing of hymns,” said St George’s Church’s Bishop Charles Samuel, “and an organ is the basic necessity for nearly all of this music. There is no other instrument that matches its ability to lead the singing of a several hundred-strong congregation.”
Bishop Samuel has stressed that the new pipe organ is “dedicated to the glory of God” and will also serve the good of the community through special organ recitals and other associated events which will be open to the public.
An inaugural public recital is scheduled to be held in the church on Aug 19 at 4pm and should lend an acoustically-rich addition to George Town Festival 2017, which will be underway by then.
The new pipe organ at St George’s took a year to build in England and has been gifted to the parish by the family of the late Datuk Tan Kim Yeow.
The organ has 17 stops (19 ranks) comprising the 1,050 metal pipes (containing tin and lead) in total. There are no electrical components in the organ other than the fan blower and tremulant.
It also boasts pipe shades which carry carvings of foliage and the distinct ‘Pinang’ tree in its design.
St. George’s church had a few organs over the centuries, including a two-manual 16-stop (17-rank) pipe organ built in 1899 by Forster & Andrews in memory of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Mander Organs Limited is a pipe organ maker and refurbisher based in London. The company has built and installed numerous celebrated organs such as the 68-stop four manual and pedal organ found in the Church of St Ignatius Loyola, New York. It has also rebuilt the Willis organ at St Paul’s Cathedral in London and refurbished the Royal Albert Hall’s grand organ.
Present in Penang to ensure that the organ is handed over to the church and left in very in good hands is Dr William McVicker, an organ auditor for the organ maker.
Dr McVicker is also organ curator at London’s Royal Festival Hall, director of music at St Barnabas Church Dulwich and a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music.
An experienced musician with a keen ear for organ tone, he is said to offer advice on matters technical and musical, specialising in acoustics, liturgy and architecture, among others.
And who could be more thrilled to welcome the new organ to Penang, than the neighbouring Church of Assumption’s resident organist, Leonard Gurunathan.
Leonard is currently lending a hand in training a group of young musicians at St George’s Church to master pipe organ playing and lead the congregation in Sunday worship.
It was so gratifying to be surrounded by a group of enthusiastic youths including the musically-inclined Matthew, Miriam, Audrey and Jason last week. They took turns in pulling out all the stops and putting their best feet forward on the new organ as they learn to produce the best sacred music possible.
Oh, and did you know that there are specially-made shoes which organists (especially those handling pipe organs) should wear?
Dr McVicker brought out his pair of organ shoes which looked like they were crafted from the softest of leather and looked narrower than normal dress shoes.
I would imagine that the leather ensured minimal friction between shoe and pedal and enabled the organist to glide their feet across the shiny pedals and actually feel them through the thin sole.
Thank you Chu Hor, Leonard and Dr McVicker for a lovely afternoon of music in the midst of the organ pipes, which have added a measure of beauty to a sacred space, in the manner which stained-glass windows often do.
Error
This video doesn’t exist
Thank you Leonard, for generously sharing these shots
Broadway actor Bruce Kuhn is coming to town! This will not be his first trip to Malaysia (he has performed in the Klang Valley and East Malaysia previously) but definitely his maiden visit to Penang.
Kuhn’s list of acting performances in the United States include playing Javert (the Police Inspector) and Thenardier (Master of the House) in “Les Miserables” on Broadway. He also starred in the national tour of Harry Chapin’s one-man Off-Broadway hit, “The Cotton Patch Gospel,” and performed in the national tour of “Chess,” directed by Trevor Nunn.
His one-man shows on his worldwide tours have included “The Gospel of Luke” and “Acts of the Apostles” which are told as stories in a compelling manner.
Kuhn’s gift in storytelling is one which he shares with others, via ‘Word by Heart’, an international training school (which he is a co-founder). Students around the world (from Vancouver in Canada to Oxford in the UK) have been taught via his courses, to present a gospel to an audience.
His Penang dates are from Friday (21/6/2019) to Saturday (22/6/2019) where he will be sharing his God-given talents via two monologue theatre performances and a workshop.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception at Pulau Tikus in George Town will host Bruce Kuhn and his performances.
With a donation of RM25, you get to attend all three sessions. Tickets are available during weekend masses at the church and at the parish office.
His Penang programme is as follows:
8 pm on Friday 21 June, 2019
Monologue on the Gospel of Luke
10 am on Saturday 22 June, 2019
Workshop on Memorizing & Story Telling
8 pm on Saturday 22 June , 2019
Monologue on the Acts of the Apostles
(Church of the Immaculate Conception, 1 Lorong Maktab, 10250 Penang)
My blog post on the arrival of the majestic Mander pipe organ at St George’s Church in Penang has miraculously surfaced! Thank you VAL for the gentle nudge.
The visit to Southeast Asia’s oldest Anglican church last night to enjoy some divine sacred music was timely, in re-telling the tale of the “king of instruments” which has made its home in the 200 year old church now for almost two years.
While security in the heritage church has been heightened and visitors are temporarily not allowed into the church when services or special events are not held, the welcome accorded us by the congregation remained as warm as ever.
The videos say it all and here’s to more evenings of melodious music from the beautiful organ in its equally precious “home.”
Sunsets on Penang beaches have always been magical and today was no different.
Especially heart-warming was the sight of Malaysians relishing the Instagramable Sunday moments and appreciating what is on their doorstep.
While the crimson and pink skies continue to be Mother Nature’s gifts each evening, the gentle reminder to have an attitude of gratitude couldn’t be more timely.
May our beaches always remain pristine and accessible … hope the welcome back to our shores was a memorable one, Fauziah!
Her t-shirts and their Malaysiana prints of flora and fauna inspired many in the 1980s when she sold these items at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur.
Today, Malaysian artist and painter Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson continues to be inspired from her homes in Penang, Pangkor and Piedmont (Italy) and shares her impressions on paper, canvas, textile and other mediums.
Her latest offerings are these nifty sketchbooks which can double up as travel journals in eye-catching colours and takes you to the jungle and the sea.
A set of 6 of these sketchbooks are retailing at RM80 and currently sold at the Tropical Spice Garden at Teluk Bahang in Penang. Other retail outlets are being confirmed at the moment.
Contact details for the artist are found in the photo below …
As the lunar New Year approaches, mistress of spices Faten Rafie presents a new addition to her jars of great Athene Spices cooking salts and rubs.
Here is her take on the lacquer-coloured and aromatic crispy roast duck to inspire you for the Chinese New Year reunion dinner or any meal, made with her latest offering, the Ginger and Garlic Salt.
A photo exhibition promoting awareness of the untiring work of the Penang Hospice Society will take place on the afternoons of Nov 11th and 22nd, 2018 at the foyer of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.
Melbourne-based photographer Karyn Leong is back in Penang to help showcase the efforts of Penang Hospice Society, in the care and support of seriously and terminally ill patients.
“My aim,” says the trained nurse, “is to capture in these photographs: precious moments, caring gestures, everyday life, in a sensitive, considerate way.“
“I wish to honour the patients’ families and carers, and remindthe viewer of our shared humanity, and the fact that disease can affect us alleither personally or by touching someone we love, at any time in our lives.Thepatient is still loved and loving, still part of their family unit.
“My sincereand utmost thanks to each of the patients for allowing me into their lives for this short time.
“Most importantly I wish to show that as a society, We Care.
“Ialsowish toacknowledgethe hard work of the caring team including the Doctors, Staff and Committee of the Society and especially the Nurses who care so respectfully andprofessionally for the patients and the families. Special regards to NursesShakila,Kalavathi, Molly andSubaahsini,” adds Leong.
Hospice care involves the patient remaining at home with physical care given by family members, with regular visits by the nurse, who guides and supports the patient and the family carer, providing advanced nursing care to alleviate the patients suffering, monitoring and adjusting pain relief and other medications, provision of appropriate necessary medical equipment, physiotherapy, wound management, physical assessment and referral to doctor or hospital if treatable conditions arise, emotional support of the patient and carers and supporting and guiding the patient and the family at the end of life.
Nurses are available on call if needed in an emergency by the family. Where possible each nurse covers a specific area with continuity of care for the patient’s and families.
Leong will be donating these photographs to the patients and the nurses, as a gift, something that they can feel good about, and eventually become a very precious memory in years to come.
(Three images but one are courtesy of Karyn Leong)
Who among us hasn’t taken 12 shots of the same subject and then ended up choosing and using only two images?
Have we even bothered spending time to enjoy the beauty of the subject photographed or ponder on the meaning of the photo? Or are we just rushing to get the images uploaded on our social media platforms and then wait to see how many people will “like” and comment on the said posting(s)?
And who else among us spend our days mindlessly forwarding messages without stoping to ponder for a moment if the contents are true or even of value to its recipients?
On behalf of I, me and myself, the humble response is “guilty as charged.”
A photo and video exhibition by Madhvee Deb called Digital Waste: the Sweet Smell of Burning, is taking place in George Town and highlightsthe behavioural issues of taking excessive photographs and a disproportionate exchange of worthless information on social media.
The photographs and objects primarily use rejected images, the leftover images we discard when searching for the perfect photo to post online – showcasing the hypnotic effect of social media on the human mind in a subtle and humorous way.
Her exhibition is open to the public at OME Spacebar Coffee (Lorong Toh Aka in George Town) throughout the George Town Festival 2018.
Well done Madhvee, for the gentle reminder to be present in the moment and think again about spending endless hours on our smartphones and tablets daily and ignoring real people and our surroundings, because we are so caught up with/in the virtual world!
(Images of exhibition and exhibits courtesy of Madhvee Deb)
Some stories require minimal words, because the photos say it all, and do so in a compelling and articulate manner.
Welcome to George Town where the month of July seems to have taken off with features of photographers who are standing out as fascinating storytellers of a city and island steeped in colour, culture, nature, heritage and endless charm.
Visual artist, photographer and graphic designer Goh Hun Meng and three generations before him lived in the clan houses of the Khoo Kongsi (Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi) at Cannon Square, a George Town World Heritage site.
Pivotal to a photography exhibition he is presenting during the upcoming George Town Festival, is his 82 year old uncle and godfather, Goh Kong Chuan.
“Sa Pek” or Third Uncle as the elder Goh is referred to in the family, was an avid photographer and showered his nieces and nephews with much kindness when they were growing up.
He also served in the Reserve Army and gave ballroom dancing lessons.
He also used to capture milestones in his family’s lives and the laughter and tears punctuated in between, with his trusty camera.
“My late grandmother (born between 1910 and 1912) was a Khoo who had lived in the clanhouse since she was five, “ Hun Meng said.
“When we were growing up, Sa Pek used to give pocket money to my cousins and I and took many precious family photos.
“Today he is 82, suffers from dementia and lives in Pulau Tikus with his wife Lim Poh Geok. His memory is not as good as before.
“The exhibition showcasing his precious collection of photos is my tribute to a man who has always cared for his family.”
Hun Meng is also looking to raise funds for his aging uncle by selling the photographs on display and donating all the proceeds to Goh Senior.
The exhibition which runs from 9 Aug to 3 September, 2018 (from 11am-6pm daily) opens on Aug 11 at 10.30am @Jetty 35 located on the ground floor of 35, Pengkalan Weld, George Town, 10300 Penang.
(All images courtesy of Goh Hun Meng)
(Note: the 16 clan houses which flank the alleyway from the main entrance to the central Clan Temple and courtyard of the Khoo Kongsi where Hun Meng and family lived, have morphed in recent times, into a 43 guest roomed boutique hotel called Clans Kongsi George Town. The story is found in an earlier posting ‘Amazing Slices of History @ClansKongsiGeorgeTown’ in this same blog https://postcodegeorgetown.wordpress.com/2018/06/21/amazing-slices-of-history-clanskongsigeorgetown
postcodegeorgetown 