Carolyn Khor's blog

An art exhibition titled ‘Spirited – Human Art of the Non-Human’, portraying how tribal communities communicated their hopes, fears and coping strategies amidst uncertainty and the natural world, was inaugurated at the Homestead, Wawasan Open University (WOU) on 15 December 2023. Jointly organised by WOU and The George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (GIOAS), the exhibition displays a selection from David Goh’s tribal artwork. The collection spans the Nusantara region, comprising art pieces from Peninsular Malaysia to Papua New Guinea. It also features tribal textile pieces, Ikat, from the collections of Puan Sri Dr Lim Suan Poh and Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, and a piece from Tan Yu Kai’s collection. GIOAS is an independent, non-profit institute within Wawasan Open University (WOU) dedicated to exploring societal ideas and complexities. Emphasising the pursuit of peace, human prosperity, happiness, and well-being, the organisation operates witho...

The works of Ooi Cheng Ghee are truly a hidden gem for those who appreciate the value of history and culture of bygone Penang. Entitled “Portraits of Penang: Little India”, this book is printed in a beautifully designed large format and comprises of 160 black and white images taken way back in 1979. “During that time, Penang was facing an economic slump. “The urban centre was facing a downward spiral, and that was why I took to walking the streets to see for myself the extend of the decline,” explained the doctor who admitted the experience as an eye-opener. Ooi’s photos, accompanied by essays and commentaries by Gareth Richards and Himanshu Bhatt tells a soulful and heartfelt tale through the lenses of a dedicated and accomplished hobbyist who is also an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society in the UK. The images reflect a particular historical moment when the Penang free-port status had just been revoked and the Indian enclave was undergoing a difficult transition...