Back-lit samples of comic book illustrations in the Asia Comics Cultural Museum bring out their exquisite details.
Penang offers venues that offer visually creative themes for visitors to pose with ghosts and 3D art or even upside down
GREAT museums are not just about showcasing history of days gone by.
In fact, some of the latest museums in Penang island are offering engaging and interactive experiences with impressive visual illusions and creative themes.
Spa manager Cherry Chia, who is residing in New Zealand, said she always found museums to be “less entertaining”, especially those with lots of old photographs, writings and historical relics.
“But not this one,” she said, referring to the Upside Down Museum in Kimberley Street, which provides ‘topsy-turvy’ interior and exterior for visitors to snap pictures.
“After taking pictures with the settings, all of us had a good laugh as we were practically upside down, either hanging in mid-air or standing on the wall.
“This is something different, and it is appealing to both the young and old, including my two-year-old daughter,” she said.
Chia said they were impressed by the furniture and props which were either fixed on the ceiling or the wall.
Museum director Loh Choong Yeong said they had adopted safety standard requirements, with about 14 crew members on duty to ensure visitors got the best angles for their photographs.
“Do not be afraid that the furniture will fall on you, as these items are securely welded.
“Besides, our staff will be there to guide you on taking the best shots.
“It took me sometime to source for the props, and some of them are antiques. This is certainly a place for people who love photo shooting and video filming,” he said.
Loh is also director of the Penang Time Tunnel, another museum where visitors can re-live over 420 years of the island’s rich history, from the earliest mention right up to the present day, while interacting with variations of its world-famous murals.
Also known as The History Museum of Penang, the attraction at 39 Green Hall, George Town, is a treasure trove of hundreds of historically relevant artefacts, documents, old photographs, maps, dioramas and antiques.
Meanwhile, Croatian entertainer David Lemon, 21, said he could not have enough of the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum in Penang Street after visiting it for the first time last year.
This time, he brought his girlfriend Tanja Delladio, 26, to get a feel of the place.
“The paintings look so real, especially the one with a bullock cart and another one with boat anchored by the sea.
“Another picture shows I can do the anti-gravity lean like Michael Jackson!
“The paintings also give a reflection of how the local culture and those of the yesteryear look like,” said the couple, who are based in Phuket, Thailand.
The museum’s operations supervisor Hui Hui Ling said there were about 40 pieces of artworks, including optical illusion paintings and sculptures.
“Our 3D trick art refers to a technique that transforms two-dimensional painting into three-dimensional images.
“The 2D paintings on the walls, floors and ceiling appear to pop up on the surface and come to life.
“These are what make us unique and all arts are originated locally,” she said.
She added there were two themes in the museum – All about Penang Life and Modern Classic.
“This theme will definitely portray the daily life of Penangites and bring the stories that are present in the heritage to a broader group of visitors.
“Guidance and assistance will be provided to ensure visitors take the best possible photos,” she said.
The Wonderfood Museum in Beach Street is another attraction which features replicas of Penang’s street food – either in original or giant-sized.
It displays a large number of local food based on Malay, Chinese, Indian and Baba Nyonya dishes.
The public can now delve into the cultural essence of comics at the Asia Comics Cultural Museum (ACCM) on Level 2 of ICT Mall in Komtar.
The evolution of comics in nine Asian countries – Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand – are on permanent display there.
For those who love to explore horror, myth, superstition and false traditional elements, then the Ghost Museum in Lebuh Melayu could be your cup of tea.
From pontianak, toyol, orang minyak to the Chinese Taoist priest with deadly vampires that are featured in the many Hong Kong movies back in the 1980s and 90s, the museum almost has it all.
Visitors can even take pictures with Dracula, Japanese Ju-On and the Egyptian Mummy.
Ghost Museum supervisor Yuki Lye said the museum was not all about scaring people with illustrations and life-sized dummy of ghosts in the house.
“It creates an atmosphere of fun and fright, just enough to spook the kids without really scaring them.
“It is more educational as there are stories for each of the myths that are supposed to be mysterious beings. We also want to dispel untruths on certain spooky tales,” she said.
Japanese tourist Atsushi Sugama, 20, was seen happily dressed up as Taoist priest at one point, and was made the ‘meal’ for Dracula the next.
“This is really interesting. Besides the local myth, I can even see a kasa obake here,” he said referring to the one-eyed umbrella ghost with a long tongue.
