Puppet show on YouTube

Click here to access to the videoshot.

I have initiated and brought this show all the way from Taiwan to Penang. It has received good comments.


每年正月初七，馬來西亞最多華人人口的檳城州，都會舉辦一場大型 的廟會。檳城州政府今年更首度邀請台灣著名的「台原偶戲團」，在 廟會中演出傳統藝術布袋戲。在馬來西亞並不常見到布袋戲演出，現 場不少觀眾看到舞台上逗趣的演出，忙不迭的拿起相機拍照留念。究 竟觀眾有多喜歡這個演出，看看大人小孩目瞪口呆的表情，就能瞭解 「台原偶戲團」的演出有多麼的受歡迎了。中央社記者 孫天美 檳城報導
每年正月初七，馬來西亞最多華人人口的檳城州，都會舉辦一場大型的廟會。檳城州政府今 年更首度邀請台灣著名的「台原偶戲團」，在廟會中演出傳統藝術布袋戲。在馬來西亞並不 常見到布袋戲演出，現場不少觀眾看到舞台上逗趣的演出，忙不迭的拿起相機拍照留念。究 竟觀眾有多喜歡這個演出，看看大人小孩目瞪口呆的表情，就能瞭解「台原偶戲團」的演記者 孫天美 檳城報導

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Wong Hon Wai

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Penang State Art Gallery: Beauty in canvas

As published in The Star

Serene female portraits
By JEREMY TAN Photos by RONNIE CHIN and JEREMY TAN


CHINESE artist Li Si Yun specialises in serene portraits of dignified women, and his pieces are much sought after by private collectors the world over.

A collection of 18 such pieces, some of which are valued inthe range of US$90,000 (about RM300,000), are currently on exhibit at the Penang State Art Gallery until Sunday, graciously loaned by private collectors and organisations specially for the show.


Beauty in canvas: Li (left) showing Wong one of his paintings while accompanying him around the exhibition at the Penang State Art Gallery.

Speaking during its recent opening ceremony last Saturday, state Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said it was an auspicious day to launch the exhibition as it coincided with the seventh day of Chinese New Year, which symbolises the birth of mankind.

He added that it was also a great opportunity for Penangites to admire the works of an accomplished Chinese artist like Li, who hails from Sichuan.


My fair lady: 'July Flowers'

Teoh Cheng Jin, chairman of event organisers Pusat Budidaya Cemerlang, expressed hope that the state government would continue its support of the arts and culture, as he believed that a society which only concentrated on modernisation and ignored artistic pursuits was nothing more than an empty shell.

“It’s rare to be able to view Li’s works in an exhibition like this. But due to great demand, he was able to source them from private collections for the benefit of local art lovers,” Teoh said.


Tranquil scene: 'Beauty Fan'.

During the ceremony, the organisation also donated RM2,000 to the Penang Chinese Girls’ High School (PCGHS) Chinese Orchestra, and RM1,000 each to the Boys Brigade Malaysia 17th Penang Company and Warga Emas Pusat Komuniti Penyayang Permata.

Earlier, the PCGHS orchestra treated the crowd to a medley of traditional tunes, with student Tan Yun Han singing several solo festive numbers.
撮合中國畫家
檳畫廊辦畫展

“庚寅虎嘯迎新春文化廟會”撮合中國首位畫家，在檳州畫廊舉辦個人畫展！

這位中國當代實力派油畫家李絲雲是以畫美女見稱，在他今次為檳城人帶來的“古典及唯美”精品集當中，也包括18幅特從個人收藏家方面商借來展出的畫作，而且是展出最多珍藏畫的一次。

黃漢偉指出，李絲雲在2008年喬治市申遺成功時，也曾與另99位國際著名畫家參與在檳舉行的100人國際畫家畫展。

他說，這項由檳州博物館畫廊委員會、檳州英才文化康樂中心與以馬內利畫廊聯辦的畫展，是從本月20日開始至28日在檳州大會堂畫廊舉辦，時間由上午9時至下午5時

Bahasa Perantaraan di Sekolah Ibunda

黄汉伟反对华淡小 采国小国语课程纲要

（槟岛西南区17日讯）槟州城市及乡村规划、房屋和艺术委员会主席黄汉伟反对教育部考虑让华淡小采用国小马来文科课程纲要的建议。

他说，若有关建议落实，华淡小必须采用国小马来文课本，此举将削弱华淡小生学习母语的能力，使到母语教育受到威胁；其次，学生是否有能力适应也是一个问题。

他续称，建议中也提到，若采用国小马来文课程纲要，华淡小原本每周270分钟的马来文节数，将增加至360分钟。这无疑对功课量繁重的华淡小学生而言是一项沉重的负担。



他是在由槟州教育咨询委员会主办的“淡小教师工作营”闭幕礼前，向记者发表上述谈话。

他说，国语的掌握能力固然重要，但华淡小生应在小学阶段打好母语基础。

他指出，一些成绩好特别是马来文程度不错的学生，或许可以跟得上，但对中等表现学生而言，恐怕很难跟上步伐，鉴此，他促请教育部慎重研究有关建议。

Taiwan's glove puppet show wows crowd

The stage performance was taken place at Tua Peh Kong Temple which is adjacent to my DAP Air Itaqm Service Center. It was showcase on the 5th and 6th of CNY.

台木偶到槟过年让大人小孩亲身体验

文章转载从光华日报：


台湾木偶到槟城过年，让大人小孩亲身体验如何操控它于掌中。

（槟城19日讯）台湾木偶到槟城过年，与大人小孩近距离接触！

年初五晚上，几十个精致可爱的台湾布袋木偶，赶赴亚依淡栳峇街的庙会神台上，集体呈献一场生动活泼的“台湾偶戏万花筒”表演，陪槟城的阿公阿婆和他们的孙儿们过年。

布袋木偶们的表情各异，身体语言丰富。有诙谐逗趣的跳加官、向观众丢糖果的福禄寿、耍杂技的小丑、腾空搏斗的武生、互相拥抱接吻的才子佳人。甚至还有一边抽烟，一边喷向观众的老木偶。


台湾布袋木偶师傅赖世安指导观众，如何让木偶复活起来。

面对木偶们全情投入的表演，司仪先生赶紧接过麦克风提醒台下张大嘴的小朋友们“回家后，千万别学他们。一旦发生任何事，木偶戏子们可不负责任。”

令全场更加High的是，剧终谢幕后，木偶们排排坐在戏台下更贴近观众。由台湾布袋木偶师傅赖世安、薛美华及“台原偶戏团”团主罗宾现场指导观众如何把玩布袋木偶。大人小孩轮流上阵，蠢蠢欲动的十个手指套上了布袋木偶们的“八月十五”，对着木偶们说“新年快乐”，重新找回了失落多年的传统文化根源和乐趣。

师傅赖世安及薛美华 台布袋戏新生代传人


木偶们排排坐在戏台下，让观众近距离看它。

布袋木偶师傅赖世安及薛美华2人从事木偶艺术表演活动多年，为台湾布袋戏的新生代传人。“台原偶戏团”将于年初六及年初七夜晚，分别在亚依淡栳街大伯公庙前及邱公司龙山堂举行的“新春文化庙会”上表演。

新春《台湾偶戏万花筒》活动由亚依淡区州议员黄汉伟服务中心主办。Noise Performance House、Ombak Ombak ARTStuduo及G酒店单位赞助。


黄汉伟州议员赠送纪念品给台湾布袋戏表演团及赞助单位代表。右起：罗宾、何小芬、黄汉伟及曽俊鸿。




GEORGE TOWN: Hundreds of people thronged the Air Itam Chinese Temple in Jalan Balik Pulau yesterday to enjoy the contemporary glove puppet performance by the Taiwan Puppet Theatre Company.
The show themed "A Sea of Puppets", was jointly organised by Service Center of ADUN Air Itam, YB Wong Hon Wai and two local groups -- Noise Performance House and Ombak-Ombak ART Studio.

Noise Performance House chairman Jason Ong Han Yee said the Taiwan Puppet Theatre Company also put up cultural puppet shows internationally in countries like France, Italy and Germany.

"We hope to start a joint-venture project with the company in the near future to showcase puppet shows for local entertainment."

偶戏万花筒 诠释春喜息

文章转载从光华日报：
报道：彭可晶 摄影：受访者提供

槟城－台北。台北－槟城。这两个距离甚远，气息甚近的历史古城，在热爱两地的文化人牵引下，在去年初秋，在台北城邂逅交融，透过“榴梿计画Part 1－槟城经验学习工作坊:活化文化资产的艺术创新手法”，让槟城文化在台北的天空下流动。今年春天，通过“榴梿计画Part 2－新春《台湾偶戏万花筒》”，台湾偶戏来到了春意浓浓的槟岛，把台湾最珍贵的传统文化艺术之一的布袋戏送送到此地，让槟城人用眼睛耳朵享用一顿最“台北”的文化飨宴。

如果要说槟城和台北有何相似之处，只要随口问到过台北的槟城人，或者到过槟城的台北人，他们都会毫不犹疑地告诉你：就是那一抹莫名的相似气息...。这次把“榴梿计画Part 2－新春《台湾偶戏万花筒》”引进槟城的大马知名剧场导演林耀华就笑说：“是啊！其实就是这一抹相似的气息，那满街飘散闽南语的空间...所以，槟城是这次演出的不二选择地。”


年前在印度首都新德里举行《台湾偶戏之美》布袋戏演出，台湾传统布袋戏泰斗
陈锡煌师傅应邀现场亲自操偶，精湛演出让印度戏迷叹为观止。

入选台北国际艺术村驻村艺术家

2008年入选台北国际艺术村驻村艺术家,2009年到台北发展，目前为自由戏剧工作者,也与多个剧团合作演出及从事剧场教学的林耀华导演，于2008年与台湾国宝级布袋戏大师陈锡煌率领的台原偶戏团“结缘”，执导光影戏《卖番仔火的小女孩》，这出光影戏不仅在台北纳豆剧场演出，隔年还受邀在2009年台北儿童艺术节演出。

也因为这次因缘，让林耀华心里涌起一个念头，他希望有一天能把享誉国际的台原偶戏团演出的布袋戏，带回自己的母国，让国人也能够亲眼目睹这以台湾北部的传统布袋戏再结合在地戏曲、京剧技巧，并融合偶戏艺师、雕刻艺师、乐师及画家们的创意巧思，制作出的偶戏表演。

他表示，台原偶戏团每年平均在台湾与世界各地演出超过百场，成立10年以来，已经在三十几个国家演出，从中南美洲的热带森林、英国伦敦的皇家音乐厅及V&A博物馆、美国旧金山联合广场、柬埔寨的乡下、河内传统戏曲剧场、西班牙的米勒之家、荷兰十七世纪的教堂以及台北大稻埕的公园。

台原偶戏团参与过的艺术节更是不计其数，光在2009年，台原偶戏团就去过印度Ishara偶戏节、葡萄牙里斯本艺术节、日本静冈春天艺术节、法国Charleville Mézières世界偶戏节、相约北京艺术节、中国中法文化之春艺术节。

除布袋戏演出，台原偶戏团每年至少制作一档结合偶戏、音乐、视觉意象的现代戏剧演出，其中包括中法跨国合作作品《戏箱》、与土耳其偶戏大师及美国光影大师合作作品《丝恋》、与泰国乔路易斯剧团合作作品《猴子王》等。

林耀华说，很遗憾的，这样的精致文艺戏剧，竟不曾在马来西亚上演过。去年，透过槟城arts-ED和大稻埕台原艺术文化基金会这两个非营利性组织，藉着“榴梿计画Part 1－槟城经验学习工作坊:活化文化资产的艺术创新手法”，由槟州的文化工作者何小芬与曾玉萍亲自到台北去，在工作坊上发表与分享槟城乔治市的艺术活动、工作和口述历史的诠释心得。


台原偶戏团的戏码生动，不止大人爱看，连小朋友都看得入神。

把偶戏团带回槟演出

透过这次的交流，更让林耀华动念要把台原偶戏团带到槟城，让马来西亚人也能够感受台北的在地文化艺术。去年，槟州亚依淡区州议员黄汉伟行政议员一次到访位于台北老城区大稻埕的《林柳新纪念偶戏博物馆》，也亲眼目睹《林柳新纪念偶戏博物馆》专属表演团队《台原偶戏团》的精彩演出，让他大为惊叹。这么一个巧妙的机缘，就凑合了这次“－新春《台湾偶戏万花筒》”在槟城演出的机会。

经过黄汉伟行政议员和林耀华导演的牵线，再由Noise Performance House和Ombak-Ombak ArtStudio的协力下，让这出原由台湾传统布袋戏泰斗，现任大稻埕偶戏馆驻馆偶戏艺师、台原偶戏团偶戏指导的陈锡煌师父针对外国朋友而设计《台湾偶戏之美》戏码在槟城上演。

这出目前更名为《台湾偶戏万花筒》的戏码，是陈师父感念偶戏在外国推广不易，便著手编了这出戏，里头没有复杂口白，却有生动情节，这样的表演型式让不谙闽南语的外国朋友，在偶师的巧手表演下，也能欣赏到台湾布袋戏之美。


大马籍的剧场导演林耀华把《台湾偶戏万花筒》布袋戏从宝岛牵引到槟岛。

林耀华导演说，由于陈师父年事已高，不便频繁出国，这次表演将由陈师父的高徒赖世安老师与薛美华老师任演师一职。这次除了在槟城亚依淡栳侾街大伯公庙连续两天演出《台湾偶戏万花筒》，也会在2月20日（周六）的《庚寅虎啸迎新春文化庙会2010》上演出。林耀华导演指出，在大伯公庙的两天演出里，除了为时一小时的布袋戏演出，演出过后亦有一小时的工作坊，现场观众可与赖老师与薛老师在现场互动交流，两位老师也将在工作坊上向观众介绍布袋戏文化，示范操偶技巧。

这个春节，让我们在槟城的天空下，细细体会有著浓厚台北气息的布袋戏，用台北的文化，丰富我们的春节吧！

演师简介

赖世安
林柳新纪念偶戏博物馆雕刻师父、台原偶戏团布袋戏演师、纳豆剧团雕刻师父

赖世安是现今台湾少数的木偶雕刻师之中，年轻且具有发展潜力的艺师，自学而来的偶头雕刻技艺，精致而纯熟。因迷上金光布袋戏而开始了戏偶的雕刻；高一时拜于台湾国宝级偶戏艺师陈锡煌先生的门下，成为亦宛然的子弟兵，更是当中唯一位主攻戏偶雕刻的。已完成的数百个作品，多元地含括了台湾传统布袋戏偶头、傀儡戏偶头以及义大利传统布袋戏偶的雕刻，近年来亦因应著各种新表演型态的偶戏作品，也创作了许多非传统形式且风格别具的戏偶。



薛美华
剧场界有“操偶之神”美誉的薛美华，把偶操作得栩栩如生。演出前，她会凝视偶的脸，直到和偶在剧中的角色融合。薛美华原是台湾复兴剧校毕业，10岁开端学京戏。后来却因缘际会进入“鞋子儿童实验剧团”，学习制偶和操偶，进而成为专业偶戏演员和导演。



台原偶戏团简历

偶戏原本就是台湾人童年记忆的一部分，在电视媒体的影响下，现代偶戏该如何吸引走失已久的观众群？关键因素除了创意，还是创意，基于此，《台原偶戏团》的每出戏都很注重故事情节的创意和剧情节奏，为的就是让台湾布袋戏发挥传统魅力的同时，大小观众都可以用崭新的角度来欣赏。

《台原偶戏团》是《林柳新纪念偶戏博物馆》的专属表演团队，创团以来，念兹在兹于台湾传统偶戏的保存、推广及创新。该团制作人林经甫与布袋戏泰斗陈锡煌、汉学偶戏专家罗斌共同理出该团的创作原则，也就是对作品进行多层次的要求与探索，无论是编导监制以及每出戏的戏偶、剧本、音乐等都必需是原创，因而发展出台湾传统偶戏新的生命力。

《台原偶戏团》的招牌戏码如【马克.波罗】，是将意大利作曲家Mattia Peli特为此戏创作的二重奏与南管交错运用，现场由两位歌手献唱演出；【廖添丁】则放进台湾小调及歌仔戏曲牌；另外，愈受喜爱的【大稻埕的老鼠娶新娘】甚至配合真人演员说故事及西洋古典弦乐现场演奏等等，这些偶戏剧码不仅尽收台湾传统布袋戏的精髓之美，更融合东西方文化内涵，观众无论男女老少、老外台客，都很讶异于上述这些戏码在舞台上下所创造的绝佳创意氛围。《台原偶戏团》所带动的偶戏新风潮，近年来已在全世界得到了高度的肯定与激赏，成功地把台湾偶戏推上国际舞台。（资料来源：林柳新纪念偶戏博物馆）


台原偶戏团参与柏林亚太文化周，他们于2009年10月10日在柏林Babylon剧场演出
《台湾偶戏万花筒》，当日演出场地涌进约400余名观众，现场观众欢笑声与惊叹声
此起彼落，对布袋戏大为赞叹。

《台湾偶戏万花筒》

剧情简介：“台湾偶戏万花筒”之剧情为典型的才子佳人的故事，情节非常简单主要叙述一位书生路遇不平，锄强济弱最后终于赢得美人芳心，全剧乃轻松讨喜之小品喜剧。“台湾偶戏万花筒”一剧乃针对未曾接触过传统布袋戏的人如外国人所设计的，亦可用默剧型式演出此为本剧另一特色，全长约40分钟。简单易懂趣味横生，透过演师五指精细的操弄，表现出生、旦、丑、杂等各类人物的肢体特色，及剧中所设计之小生摇扇、小旦梳妆撑伞、白阔抽烟、武术杂耍、跳窗等细腻动作表演，是引领观众一窥传统布袋戏堂奥的绝佳入门好戏。

Heritage enclave abuzz with preparation for CNY party

As reported in the Star.

Heritage enclave abuzz with preparations for CNY party
By ANDREA FILMER, Photos by K.E. OOI

Festive countdown: Work is in progress to prepare the George Town heritage enclave for the annual Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration tomorrow.

PREPARATIONS are underway in George Town’s inner city heritage enclave for the annual Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration.

The old streets have already come alive with excitement and sounds of construction as organisers, volunteers and workers quicken their pace to ensure all is ready for the nine-hour party tomorrow.


Festive decor: Strings of lanterns have been put up along Armenian Street in preparation for the celebration tomorrow.

Strings of bright red lanterns have emerged while the finishing touches are being put on the grand 5m-high archway on Lebuh Cannon.

The yellow and grey structure, that will be the gateway for the nine-street celebration, is adorned with a brilliant blue roof and eye-catching designs of ‘Fuk Luk Sau’, the gods of longevity, happiness and prosperity.

Also under construction is a large brown and gold main stage at the intersection of Lebuh Cannon and Armenian Street where the event’s opening ceremony will be held at 6pm.


Finishing touch: A worker reinforcing gold designs on a large brown stage at the junction of Lebuh Cannon and Armenian Street.

Event programme director Khor Hock Thye said this year’s celebration would see a new theme after several years.

“For the last two or three years, the celebration centred around the cultures and traditions of five Chinese clans — the Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Teochew and Hainan.

“This year, we are introducing a theme on moral values, putting emphasis on faithfulness, etiquette, filial piety and justice,” Khor said in a press conference yesterday.

He said the heritage enclave would be divided into 10 areas —Faithfulness, Etiquette, Filial Piety and Justice, representing four core Chinese moral values and Traditional Handicraft Zone, Wushu Stage, The History of Clan Houses in Penang, Art and Culture Zone, Native Place Region and The Old Penang Memory.

“Each area will have its own ongoing activities starting from 3pm till midnight.

“Highlights include musical dance and drama performances of famous Chinese characters like Yue Fei (a Chinese patriot and military general),” Khor said.

He added that a dance troupe on stilts from Batu Pahat, Johor, would be making a special trip to the state to perform and there would also be an 88 drummers performance — a larger version of the popular 24-season drum showcase.

Over 100,000 people are expected to turn up for the street party while 30,000 guide booklets have been printed and will be distributed free during the event, Khor added.

The street party is organised by the Clan Associations Youth Committee, the Penang Chinese Clan Council and the state government. It is co-sponsored by E&O Hotel and DiGi.

To facilitate preparations, a section of Armenian Street (between Lebuh Cannon and Lebuh Acheh) will be closed today from noon till midnight.

For the event tomorrow, nine roads will be closed the whole day — Lebuh Acheh, Armenian Street, Lebuh Ah Quee, Lebuh Chulia (between Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and Queen Street), Lorong Pitt, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling (between Lebuh Chulia and Kampung Kolam), Lebuh Buckingham, Soo Hong Lane and Cannon Street.


Highlights: Wong (wearing tie) being briefed on the event layout by Khor (right).

State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said there would also be several road transitions, adding that police personnel as well as some 60 Rela members would be on the scene to help the traffic flow.

“We are also opening two temporary bus stops, one at the junction of Lebuh Ah Quee and Beach Street and the other at the junction of Lebuh Acheh and Beach Street.

“Rapid Penang buses heading to George Town and all three CAT buses (that are free of charge) will stop there to help people get to the event,” Wong said.

He urged members of the public and visitors to take public transport to the party to cut down on the number of cars heading to the area.

Suggested parking areas for those who are coming by car include Prangin Mall, the Hutton Lane multi-storey car park, the Fort Cornwallis car park, areas around the Esplanade and the Union Street multi-storey car park.

Allocation of fund to vernacular schools in Air Itam

I have visited vernacular schools in Air Itam and the State Government is committed to assist Chinese schools, Tamil Schools, missionary schools and Sekolah Agama Rakyat in Penang.

檳制度獲認同‧122校申請撥款
2010-01-22 19:01

公民一校董事會財政程福隆（右2）指示牆上的龜裂痕跡。右是黃漢偉；左起董事會總務郭狄歷和公民三校信理員未員會主席拿督莊耿康。（圖：光明日報）
（檳城）阿依淡區州議員黃漢偉聲稱，2天前的華教協委會會議結果顯示，今年申請州政府撥款的學校共有122所，這意味著更多學校認同州政府處理撥款的效率。

他指出，今年是民聯政府實行制度化撥款的第2年，申請撥款學校比去年增加14所，東北縣方面則從去年50所增至53所。

他今日（週五，1月22日）在巡視公民總校、公民一校和中華A、B校時表示，各區州議員將在未來3週內，到各申請撥款學校進行審核。

在吸取去年的經驗後，黃漢偉希望各區州議員在校方配合下，更快完成審核程序，讓校方早日獲得撥款。

“我期盼州政府能發揮拋磚引玉作用，讓中央政府改變撥款政策，使各源流學校都可受惠，也希望各校踴躍向中央政府申請撥款。”

他披露，在其選區內申請撥款的學校多達8間，包括中華A、B校、公民總校、公民一校、新江小學、僑南小學、拉惹基淡小和鍾靈中學。

針對公民一校欲將學校旁的部份河流填土，進行擴建以加寬學生活動空間一事，黃漢偉表示，有關工程已被納入水力灌溉局的2010年預算內。

他說，當局已委派人員前來視察，結果乃有待決定。然而，他認為一切仍需當局的指導，以鞏固河堤，讓河邊泥土不再下陷。

Under a Penang Sky - Sculpture Trail

As reported in The Star
Japanese creates abstract sculpture worth RM600,000
By MANJIT KAUR




Almost done: Mitsuo putting the final touches to his masterpiece at Upper Penang Road.

EVER passed by Upper Penang Road and wondered what a marble abstract sculpture was doing there?

Wonder no more as that sculpture is the work of a well-known Japanese sculptor Kikuchi Mitsuo.

Entitled ‘Under a Penang Sky’, the 3.4m-tall sculpture is made up of four fine marble slabs each weighing three tonnes.

Penang State Art Gallery chairman Datuk Tang Hon Yin said the sculpture was the fourth of its kind under the Penang Sculpture Trail project.

The other three are ‘Winds of Penang’ by Mukai Katsumi located at the junction of Penang Road and Magazine Road, ‘Celebration of the Blue Sky’ by Hitori Nakayama and ‘Rhythm of Life’ by Heng Eow Lin both situated at the Lebuh Sungai Pinang promenade.


Drilling patiently: Mitsuo working hard on a marble slab to create his abstract sculpture. He took two years to finish his project, entitled 'Under a Penang Sky'.
Tang said Mitsuo, 64, took two years to complete the sculpture using St Nicholas Home for the Visually Impaired as his studio.

“The artist will be present on Thursday for the ‘unveiling’ of the sculpture by state Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.

“His work is valued at RM600,000 but he will not be paid for the sculpture. It is his gift to the city.

“Ten people will look at the sculpture in 10 different ways, as the work is abstract. That is the beauty of it,” he told a press conference at a hotel in Penang on Thursday.

The sculpture that was completed towards the end of last year is facing the E&O Hotel on Farquhar Street.

Tang said the vision to turn Penang into a world class sculpture corridor showcasing the best of Asian sculptors is the brainchild of Nakayama, who has been residing in Penang for the past 21 years.

The implementation of the Penang Sculpture Trail of World Class Asian Sculpture is spearheaded by Friends of Penang and supported by the Penang Museum and Art Gallery and the Penang Municipal Council.


One for the album: Mitsuo posing with his masterpiece after completion of his work.

“The project aims to install five sculptures per year for the next 10 years. We are hoping to come up with 50 such world-class sculptures during the period.

“We are trying to follow a model after a small town not far away from Tokyo called Tachikawa that has over 100 sculptures from worldwide artists.

“Although we have a long way to go, we hope one day people will visit Penang for its wonderful sculptures,” he added.

Tang said the Penang Sculpture Trail was an example of the saying “There is no limit to what man can do if no one cares who takes the credit”.

“What matters is for like-minded people to do whatever they can to make Penang one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” he said.

Those interested to be involved in the community driven project as a sponsor or supporter can email Friends of Penang at pstprojectinfo@gmail.com


檳島第4戶外裝置藝術誕生‧“檳城天空之下”揭幕
2010-02-06 15:21

“檳城天空之下”正式開幕：左起為揭幕嘉賓菊池滿雄、黃漢偉、李凱及陳忠源。（圖：星洲日報）

檳島的第4個裝置藝術已經順利誕生，未來的10年內，檳政府及非政府組織計劃要在整個豎立50座裝置藝術，要讓藝術融入生活，無處不在。（圖：星洲日報）

外國遊客喜見“檳城天空之下”的誕生，馬上邀請創作者在小冊子上簽名留念！（圖：星洲日報）
1 of 3（檳城）“檳城天空之下”（Under a Penang Sky）正式揭幕，檳島的第4個戶外裝置藝術宣告完美誕生！

這個由日本藝術家菊池滿雄（64歲）創作的裝置藝術，早前舉行揭幕儀式，並由菊池滿雄本身及負責檳州文化藝術事務的黃漢偉主持。

“檳城天空之下”重8噸，高3.4公尺，由產自怡保的大理石製成，與伊恩奧酒店遙遙相對。菊池滿雄為了這個作品，自掏腰包來檳9次勘察，他以水晶的棱角為概念，配合檳州獨有的古城氛圍，創造出這個作品。

菊池滿雄：雕像強調曲線

菊池滿雄解釋，這個雕像特別強調其曲線，當中凸顯了“人工的整齊”和“天然的不完整”，簡言之，就是這座城市柔和了自然和現代的美，達致和諧的美。

“這就是檳城的特色了，總是那麼渾然天成。”

黃漢偉說，喬治市除了是一個擁有世遺地位的城市外，檳州政府亦積極想把它打造成“藝術之都”，讓藝術文化氣息充滿在這古色古香的城市內。

他感謝菊池滿雄留下這個美麗的藝術品給檳城人。

“我要特別感激聖尼古拉之家、新港機械、Lincolite Electrical Engineering、怡保工程、Arkitek LLA、MH Boey Arkitek、Kintaly Marble、Kaki Design、Multi Tents及伊恩奧酒店的贊助，才能讓‘檳城天空之下’順利豎立在喬治市。”

出席揭幕禮者包括雕像贊助人陳忠源、檳州畫廊主席拿督鄧康賢、檳城大地之友主席李凱、日本籍藝術家中山一人等等。值得一提的是，檳州交響樂隊亦在當天為公眾演奏多首曲子，為檳榔律上環營造了濃濃的藝術氛圍。

星洲日報／大北馬‧2010.02.05

Attending funeral during CNY

My first Press Conference in this tiger year - attending a funeral on the fourth day of Chinese New Year. I have written to the Police to press for futher investigation on the death of Khoo Chan Ming. His body was found floated near Muka Head. He took a cruise trip before Chinese New year and to be found dead a few days later.


青年除夕上賭船變浮屍‧黃漢偉：指乘客常遺留身份證‧“賭船公司漠視乘客安危”
2010-02-18 12:31
邱璋敏向黃漢偉（右）投訴。（圖：星洲日報）


檳城）行政議員黃漢偉針對青年除夕上賭船變浮屍離奇命案，指賭船公司“過去也有乘客上岸忘記拿回身份證”的說法牽強，並顯示對乘客的安危漠不關心。

黃漢偉希望警方從這起案件吸取教訓，改善失蹤案的作業方式，以免再次出現疏忽。

此案死者邱璋健住家位於黃漢偉的亞依淡州選區的寶石花園。黃漢偉週三（2月17日）上午出席邱璋健殯儀，慰問其家屬，同時召開新聞發佈會。他將致函檳州警方，促請警方深入調查此案，以便其死因能夠水落石出。

35歲的印務公司策劃員邱璋健過去從未上賭船。

他於2月10日晚離家，他的弟弟邱璋敏於12日在舊關仔角大鐘樓旁的停車場找到他的電單車，因而懷疑他上了賭船之後失蹤。人們於2月13日發現邱璋健時，他已是一具漂流在直落巴巷海域的浮屍。

賭船沒通知死者未上岸

黃漢偉說，警方並沒有根據線索，通知心急如焚的家屬。直到2月15日，家屬才從第三者口中獲悉，趕到浮羅山背太平間認屍。

對於賭船的問題，黃漢偉說，當局規定任何上賭船過夜的乘客都必須把身份證交給賭船職員。後者須向警方呈報乘客的人數和資料，乘客離船上岸時，則必須點算人數，同時歸還乘客身份證。

他說，賭船職員於隔天邱璋健家屬上船交涉之後，才發現死者沒上岸，他們並沒有因為邱璋健留下的身份證，而通知家屬或警方。

邱璋敏：將保留法律追究權

死者弟弟邱璋敏說，他們在此事件保留法律追究權。

邱璋健留下妻子張麗華和3名年幼女兒。親友於新年帶著悲愴和及重重謎團送殯。邱璋健的遺體過後在峇都干冬火葬場火化。

張麗華原本她和邱璋健計劃在3月慶祝結婚10週年錫婚紀念，可惜卻是在新年的時候生離死別。

Gotong Royong at Air Itam

Team spirit: Wong (in white shirt) helping residents in a gotong-royong project at the Desa Mawar apartments in Air Itam, Penang.


As reported in the Star.
Clean-up at apartments

ABOUT 50 people spent one recent Sunday morning taking part in a gotong-royong to spruce up the area surrounding the five blocks of Desa Mawar apartments in Bandar Baru Air Itam, Penang, in time for Chinese New Year.



Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said his team would take turns joining local residents in various housing projects within his constituency to help them spruce up their respective areas before the different festive seasons.

Also taking part in the gotong-royong were personnel from the Paya Terubong fire station and voluntary fire squad, the Territorial Army’s Regiment 509, the Penang Municipal Council and the Thean Teik Village Development and Security Committee.

CNY Puppets Performance Show hosted by DAP Air Itam Service Center

Chinese New Year Puppets Performance Show
Stage next to Air itam Service Center, Jalan Balik Pulau.
Date & Time: 18-19 February 2010 （Thursday & Friday） @ 08:00pm

Free Admission. All are welcome.

Celebrating Chinese New Year with residents along Jalan Pisang Raja, Kampung Melayu

JKKK Kampung Melayu operates a Pasar malam every Monday night along Jalan Pisang Raja, Air Itam. During the Chinese New Year festive season, they decided to give hampers to the residents along the road to mark their appreciation for their kind understanding and tolerance with the night market activities.

This is a good example on how we can spread the cross-cultural goodwill.

Soil erosion at Huan Sang Temple - Problem resolved.

Developers urged to help

DEVELOPERS should help the communities where their projects are located even if it is not their legal obligation to do so.

State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said such efforts should be part of the developers’ corporate social responsibility programme.

Wong, who is also the Air Itam assemblyman and State Non-Muslim Religious Places of Worship Committee chairman, was speaking to reporters after inspecting the Huan Sang Temple soil erosion site at Solok Thean Teik, Air Itam, on Sunday.


The front portion of the temple grounds was eroded during a heavy downpour in September last year.

Wong then appealed to the Belleview Group to assist the temple in constructing a water retention wall and drainage system to prevent future landslides from occurring.

“Belleview is currently working on a mix development project near the temple so I approached them for help and thankfully, they willingly obliged.”

Belleview senior project manager Lim Beng Hoe, who was present, said as “neighbours”, the group was very happy to help.

“We could have completed the work in a month but because of the rainy spell, it took us three months to do the job,” he said, adding that the work was completed in early January.

Temple committee chairman Vincent Teh thanked the local authorities and developer for their efforts.

“This temple has been around for 52 years. When the erosion occurred, we were having a celebration here.

“We were worried because water was washing away the soil from the front portion of the temple which is very dangerous — that is the area where we conduct computer classes for students,” he said.

急流冲泄严重地陷 华山祠修补工程完成
2010/01/25 11:57:24 AM
●南洋商报

（槟城24日讯）位于天德园大道山区的华山祠，在去年9月19日因急流冲泄而发生严重地陷问题，目前修补工程已宣告完成，善信可安心前往庙宇“拜拜”。

亚依淡区州议员黄汉伟披露，当问题发生后，山下的珍美园发展商佳景集团，即发挥社会责任精神展开修补工程，兴建一条沟渠引水到蓄水池和10尺防崩墙。

他指出，尽管曾因雨季以致工程较慢完工，但今年1月初已宣告工程完工，并将减低土崩和洪水发生的几率。

他于周日前往华山祠巡视时，趁机感谢佳景集团施予援手。出席者有该集团工程经理郑永盛、高级工程经理林明豪。

他指出，地陷问题发生是因后山在一阵豪雨后出现急流，而沟渠阻塞无法真正排水，以致强力水流无处可泄转而冲击防崩墙。

他呼吁华山祠日后要经常注意沟渠情况，避免沟渠阻塞以致事件重演。

蓄水池安装安全设施

另外，针对另一个发展商兴建的蓄水池，他将与该发展商了解有关日后在该蓄水池安装安全设施。

华山祠理事会主席郑文胜表示，原本每周日进行的电脑班，将在农历新年后才会重新开放。