Penang Street Art – Armenian Street

Lebuh Armenian

Interactive murals by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic, including Kids on Bicycle, along with 52 wire-sculpture caricatures scattered through the old town's lanes. It is George Town's most popular treasure-hunt route.

During the George Town Festival in 2012, Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic created a set of murals on the old town walls that incorporate real objects. On Armenian Street, a real bicycle sits alongside the painting 'Kids on Bicycle.' On Ah Quee Street, 'Boy on Motorbike' is painted beside a real motorbike. Other works include 'Little Boy and His Pet Dragon,' 'Kungfu Girl' (Muntri Street) and 'Children on a Swing' (Step by Step Lane). These interactive compositions let visitors step into the picture for photos, and the murals quickly became a city emblem for Penang. Since then, local and international artists have added dozens more works, such as the 'Cat and Mouse' series and the cat murals around 'Little Children on a Bicycle.' Accompanying the murals are 52 wire-sculpture caricatures, 'Marking George Town,' placed around the old town since 2009. Using humorous steel-wire drawings, they tell the history and stories of each street, such as the tinsmiths of Armenian Street and the cannon story of Cannon Street. To explore, pick up a free mural map from the tourism office or your hotel and walk Armenian Street, Ah Quee Street, Cannon Street and Muntri Street. The full route takes about 2 hours. You can also rent a bicycle or take a trishaw. Armenian Street itself is the busiest street of creative shops and cafés in the old town, with weekend markets. The murals are free to see at any time of day, but they are outdoors, and some have faded over time. Nearby, the Khoo Kongsi, the Sun Yat-sen Museum in Penang at 120 Armenian Street (admission about RM 5) and the Clan Jetties are all within a 5-minute walk. Note: popular murals can mean a 10 to 20 minute queue in peak season, so early morning is best. Do not touch or climb the objects in the murals. The midday sun is intense.

Penang Street Art – Armenian Street

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