As reported by Malaysiakini Susan Loone
Mural panel not to control artists, says board
The newly-formed special committee on murals and
artwork within the George Town heritage site should not be perceived as
controlling artistic or freedom of expression, said the Penang Museum
and Art Gallery Board.
The board’s chairperson Wong Hon Wai said the decision to form a committee headed by
George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GWHI) is to avoid “contradictions between art and heritage”.

“I
have been to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The graffiti in Rio is something
we do not want to happen in George Town,” Wong, who is also a director
of GWHI, told
Malaysiakini.
“Art is not only about murals, we do not have any limitation with other indoor art activities,” he added.
Wong was also responding to GWHI general manager Lim Chooi Ping who had
said yesterday that the committee was to ensure that the murals or
artworks within the heritage site do not tarnish the image of the area.
Wong said GWHI should explain more about the committee and that it is necessary for it to have a proper management mechanism.
He said the public can also monitor how many applications have been approved or rejected.
The public can also ask the authorities to clarify the reasons why a mural or artwork had been rejected.

Wong (
right),
who is Air Itam assemblyperson, said during the last state legislative
sitting in November, he had asked about measures taken to manage these
murals and artwork within the heritage zone.
He said he asked the question since Ernest Zacharevic’s work, which was
exhibited during the annual George Town Festival was well-received.
Zachaveric’s ‘Little Children on a Bicycle’ mural was chosen by the
Guardian newspaper as among the top 15 artwork installation in the
world, and tourist have been flocking to it to snap photos of themselves
with it.
“This is a good thing but we start to worry. As ‘Little Children on a
Bicycle’ has been recognised internationally, there are a lot more
graffiti which are around without approval on the walls of our old
buildings,” Wong explained.
“According to the answer given in the state assembly, the Penang
Municipal Council has so far only received two applications and both had
been approved,” he added.
“Up to now, no application has even been rejected,” he noted.
Wong said that the public or artists appeared to be less interested in
applying for this opportunity although the state government continue to
encourage and promote arts and murals in the town.
‘Artworks may affect heritage buildings’
Meanwhile, some heritage lovers have raised their concerns to GWHI that the artworks may affect the heritage buildings.
“Therefore, we need to strike a balance between arts and heritage when both conflict with each other,” Wong said.
“Although artworks can be seen as a complement to heritage, but some
fear it might destroy the buildings itself and jeopardise the image and
status of the World Unesco heritage site, which the state was awarded in
2008,” he added.
Wong said it was better to let GWHI review the applications as MPPP,
which did it previously based on it guidelines, may be “too rigid”.
He added that it was best to allow artists who are members of the committee to conduct “peer review” on the applications.
“People like me had better not sit on the committee,” he quipped.
Artists at A2 Gallery, run by Alfred Yeoh, agreed with the move.
“It’s not about control but of keeping the standards up or else everyone
will try to become an artist for instant fame,” Yeoh had said when
asked whether artists would feel limited by the presence of the
committee.
Kiru Muniandi, a portrait artist from Bukit Mertajam expressed his concern over the membership of the committee.
“I know people who are aligned with the ‘people in charge’ and some who are not and both sides are non-political,” he said.
“The committee should be representing Penang as a whole. That’s tricky,” he added.
Kiru said he supported the move for any murals to be screened by people who have the credentials to do so.
“Yes, controls are needed, but by whom? That’s what concerns me.”