GEORGE TOWN, 19 AUGUST 2013 – In conjunction with the three-month 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism festival (1MCAT), the George Town Art Trail 2013 event was launched in Penang on Friday, 16 August at the prestigious Seventh Terraces Boutique Hotel in George Town.

The event, which is organised by Branding at Hekty Sdn. Bhd, will run until 30 September and showcase the works of established and up-and-coming artists such as Peter Liew, Rebecca Ducket-Wilkinson, Kuen Stephanie, and Jonathan Yun. The public will have a chance to view their works at establishments such as Peter Liew Atelier, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Tiger Gallery, and various other exhibitions and galleries throughout George Town.

The event is in line with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s aim of establishing Malaysia as the premier art tourism destination, as well as using Malaysian artworks to attract tourists to Malaysia. As always, the 1MCAT festival runs nationwide from July to September, and is now in its fourth year.

Other activities included in this year’s 1MCAT is the art tourism competition with the theme “The Futurists”, where participants stand to win the first prize of RM5,000 and a certificate by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

For more information on the George Town Art Trail 2013 please contact;

Ms. Koh Tze Yin
Hekty Publishing Sdn Bhd
Suite 1-04,Wisma Sri Weld, 3A Pengkalan Weld
10300 Penang
Tel: 04-2614099
Fax: 04-2614169
Email: tze@penangpassion.com
Mobile:012-4887662

Mr. Liew Kian Yap
ArtMalaysia Association
No. 19A, Jalan Pudu Ulu
Off Jalan Cheras
56100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 – 9285 0001/ 9286 3385

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Highlights of artists who are participating in 1MCAT George Town Art Trail 2013:

1. Mr Peter Liew, an established artist who paints from his heart, loves to paint with capricious musical rhythm. He likens his paintings to a musical score with lively notes that comes to life when an audience interacts with it. He weaves colours into his masterpieces. His current exhibition features historical landmarks, old street scenes, traditional hawkers along the roadside of George Town, Penang.

2. Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson, a Malaysian artist inspired by nature and in particular the colours and patterns of flora and fauna from a childhood spent on estates and plantations as well as travels in Indonesia, creates inventive and detailed works made up of layers of images that are 'recorded' as visuals in her head. For her George Town series, Rebecca has produced whimsical images or still life of many of her favourite things that are commonplace around the streets and the markets of the heritage city.

3.Street Stories by Kuen Stephanie shown now at Gehrig Art Gallery hopes to recapture the wonderful memories of people, places and their stories. Some of these images show the unique interweaving of our colourful culture and heritage that bind us together. But many of these charming street scenes are fast disappearing due to rapid urbanisation. The artist wants to recall these scenes so that for one moment we can immerse ourselves in another time. George Town is an ideal place in which to showcase this collection because all the nostalgic charming scenes are still alive and thriving, a living heritage that is both tangible and intangible. The UNESCO heritage city has always been a place of inspiration for her work.

4. Jonathan Yun, another of our participating artisan and a local jeweller, specialises in crafting neo-Peranakan jewellery. He has designed a series of lovely bold Keronsang 'thoes' or 'Ibu Keronsang' in his recent collection. These are made from semi-precious stones such as tzardite, emeralds, luscious pearls and diamonds set in antique silver. Feast your eyes on his nouveau and re-interpreted timeless, silhouette of Peranakan brooches and earrings at his studio.

5. A Tale of 3 Cities, an art exhibition now being held at Penang State Museum and Art Gallery, showcases artist, Ng Woon Lam 's abstract interpretation of the coexistence of multi-cultures - Chinese, Malay and Indian, plus the unique Baba Nyonya elements, add colours and flavour to the local lifestyles and art scene. Ng's paintings cover a wide spectrum of subjects common to the three Straits Settlements of Penang, Singapore and Malacca with special depiction on their rich architectural and cultural heritage.

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. While the Ministry of Tourism & Culture implements tourism policies, conducts studies and offers incentives for industry players, Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at the domestic and international level. Driven by its aspiration to promote Malaysia as a destination of excellence in this region, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception and has emerged as a major player in the nation’s socio-economic landscape. In 2012, Malaysia registered 25 million tourist arrivals and RM60.6 billion in tourist receipts.

In 2014, Malaysia will celebrate its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started this year with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.    

Press contact:
Media Relations Unit:
Mr. Razaidi Abd Rahim, Senior Asst. Director, Communications & Publicity Division
Email: razaidi@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:
Ms. Anis Rozalina Ramli, Editor, Communications & Publicity Division
Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my