Vibrant immersive experience at George Town festival
GEORGE TOWN: George Town Festival (GTF) 2025 got off to a vibrant start with the 'After Dusk' opening gala at the Esplanade here.
The area transformed into an immersive stage for art, music and performance last night, with the highlight being a projection mapping display by Filamen called 'Terang'.
Powerful visual stories with motifs representing the country's diverse communities, landmarks, cuisines and history flashed across the Town Hall's facade, drawing cheers from the large crowd.
Also on was an introspective, silent dance-music performance titled 'Transmute: Dengung Masih Dalam Sepi', a poetic diabolo routine called 'Starry Night', as well as folk music numbers.
Many festival-goers also hopped aboard a city bus for the 'Between Departures' roving musical performance while others thronged the open-air night market for snacks and souvenirs.
Also opening yesterday was the 'Symbiosis: Crab Chronicle' at The Whiteaways Arcade, a virtual reality (VR) exploration of Penang's ecosystems via the eyes of crustaceans.
Artist Koh Kai Ting said the narrative took one from Penang Hill down to the island's coastal sands where they meet different species of native crabs, as well as an invasive one.
They spent nine months doing fieldwork with fisherfolk, scientists and ecologists in areas like Sungai Batu and Tanjung Tokong to build the thought-provoking story.
'We wanted to show how layers of environmental change – deforestation, urbanisation and land reclamation – have disrupted the delicate balance of diversity.
'Crabs are deeply embedded in Penang's natural and cultural history, yet are often overlooked.
'It was our way of questioning whose stories get told in such narratives.
'Immersive design allows one to not just learn things but also feel it deeply.
'By crawling on leaves or through tunnels from the crabs' perspective, visitors engage with environmental realities in ways that are both visceral and reflective,' Koh said.
She added that visitors could also scan QR codes and see the crabs appear via augmented reality (AR) on their phones, allowing them to appreciate the creatures without harming them.
Across town at the Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park, the 'A Debt of Time' light-responsive installation had visitors pondering themes of impermanence, connection and memory.
With the sun high in the sky, the shadow of a poignant poem was cast on the ground. It called on people to be kind and re-examine how they treated each other.
Text-based artist Neoh Shin Yen said the work was inspired by a conversation she had, which led her to ponder if human connections were transactional and kept like a balance sheet.
'It quietly reflects how kindness, like debt, transcends time and is shaped not just by what is given but by the intention behind it.
'Shadow and light is a naturally powerful medium. As it changes throughout the day, there is an ephemeral quality that reflects the impermanence of our memories,' she said of the installation, which will be kept on display until Sept 1.
'After Dusk' will be held again tonight starting 5pm, while 'Symbiosis: Crab Chronicle' will be open daily from 11am to 7pm till the festival ends on Aug 10.
The festival is in its 16th edition and themed 'Connection'.
For the full line-up, visit www.georgetownfestival.com.
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