IN A RECENT interview, Penang lawyer and art advocate Lee Khai remarked that “no great city exists without a great art gallery.” As chairman of the Penang State Art Gallery (PSAG), he envisions a bold future for the island’s cultural landscape.
“I envision a new PSAG with 100,000 square feet of public exhibition space—enough to host international exhibitions—and a purpose-built concert hall at the Penang Art District (PAD),” he says. “These will be landmarks of civic pride and cultural identity in the city.”
For Lee, transforming Penang into an actual cultural city requires not just infrastructure but vision. “While Penang cannot compete in scale with megacities, we can certainly learn from cities of similar size and character,” he explains. “I admire Taipei for its integrated arts policy, but in terms of scale and context, Kaohsiung offers a more relatable model. Its successful blend of harbourfront revitalisation, creative industries, and community engagement aligns closely with Penang’s own potential as a port city with a rich cultural heritage.”
##CROSSOVER: Click here to read our story, Integrated framework for Penang’s arts future, and here for Art of building a cultural legacy, at www.newasiacurrents.com
Lee also draws inspiration from Japan’s Setouchi International Art Triennale, a contemporary art festival held every three years across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and the coastal cities of Takamatsu and Tamano.
“Since its launch in 2010, the festival has shown how art can drive regional renewal,” Lee notes. “Its mission—to revitalise an area long affected by depopulation—has achieved remarkable success, transforming remote islands into thriving cultural destinations.”
Lee believes Penang can learn from this model of art-driven transformation. “Art, when thoughtfully integrated with place-making and community participation, possesses the power to rejuvenate not only urban spaces but also the human spirit,” he says.
Still, the path toward cultural maturity is not without challenges. “I find art activism a lonely pursuit,” Lee admits. “As an ‘artivist,’ I constantly have to convince policymakers of the arts’ importance while also educating the public about its value in daily life.”
Despite the obstacles, he remains undeterred. “I take heart in progress, however incremental,” he says with a smile. “When discouraged, I remind myself with humour that my mission is merely to bring Penang from ‘fourth class to third class.’ Improvement is a journey, not a finish line—and if we keep moving forward, first class will come eventually.”
As for his legacy, Lee’s hope is simple yet profound: “To bring the world to Penang and Penang to the world.” If his efforts help lay the foundation for Penang’s art infrastructure, he says, “I would consider that my legacy.” - Sebastian Lim
All articles, opinions, and events featured in PostScript NAC represent the views of the interviewees, individual writers and contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of PostScript NAC. While we strive to ensure all information on this post is accurate, complete, and current, PostScript NAC is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated content.