Art and business enthusiast, Dato Ch’ng Huck Theng hopes to relive the heydays when Penang was a thriving art centre by pioneering Beyond Contemporary Art Penang (BCAP) - Penang International Art Summit and Expo, set to be held in November 2023.
By Rachel Yeoh
For Dato Ch’ng Huck Theng, it was his experience and vantage point as an artist, art and antique collector, businessman, and visionary that allowed him to notice the existence of an intersection between business, art, tourism, and education. He started collecting antiques at the age of 14 before getting his hands paint-streaked during his university days in Australia—from then on, there was no stopping him in the arts and culture arena.
After returning from his studies, he established himself through networking and making his passion known to all who would lend an ear. It was not long before he was invited to sit on the National Art Gallery’s board.
Once there, he made waves trying to get the board to work with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to promote art through MARTRADE, the national trade promotion agency. He succeeded, introducing a softer approach in business using fashion, art and culture.
Therefore, it came as no surprise when Ch’ng unveiled Beyond Contemporary Art Penang (BCAP) – Penang International Art Summit and Expo. BCAP is set to open its doors from 9 to 12 November 2023 at The Wembley – A St Giles Hotel in George Town.
“A few years ago, I had the opportunity to engage with PETACE, conveying my vision for a unique and harmonious collaboration between four distinct industries: art, tourism, business, and education. My proposal was to unite these sectors, allowing them to complement and amplify each other’s strengths, ultimately generating a domino effect that would give birth to a thriving ecosystem,” he explained.
In this envisioned ecosystem, Ch’ng wanted to host captivating art exhibitions, inviting potential entrepreneurs and professionals to explore, connect, and form valuable relationships. By bridging the gaps between these industries, he believed this would foster synergy and mutual growth.
That idea was the genesis of BCAP, a one-of-a-kind art event that covers four programmes encompassing four industries over four days. There will be an ART Summit on 10 November, where respected persons in the arts industry will share their knowledge and the power of collaboration. Look out for names like Richard Chang (founder of Art Kaohsiung and Art Formosa, Taiwan), Angela Hijjas (founder of Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia) and Celso Duazo Pepito (Contemporary Artist, Philippines) who will be engaging with the audience on topics relating to Art and Branding, The Role of Art in Social Change, The Power of Collaboration in Art, and The Impact of Globalisation and Sustainability in Art.
For those interested in viewing art, the ART Expo will showcase artworks from renowned artists of the past: the late Yong Wan Seng, Chia Yu Chian, and Khaw Sia. There will also be works from upcoming names on display, such as members of Aswara and Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA).
For those who want to watch the action, there is the ART Auction on 12 November, where 80 artworks, including Straits Chinese artefacts like porcelain and fashion, will be auctioned. The BCAP will end with a bang with an ART Gala Dinner to appreciate art promoters.
“These individuals, who selflessly invest their time and resources into promoting art in their unique ways, have often gone unrecognised. We believe that artists, when truly exceptional, naturally attract patrons and collectors, but the dedicated art promoters who invest in the industry deserve our appreciation,” Ch’ng explained.
The genesis of BCAP was also driven by Ch’ng’s hope to put Penang back on the map as a thriving art centre—which was the status the state achieved in the mid-20th century due to its bustling trading port, at the tail end of its time as part of the Straits Settlements. In the 1970s and 80s, Penang yielded its spotlight to Kuala Lumpur.
The journey towards that revival, according to Ch’ng, started when Penang commissioned Ernest Zacharevic to paint life-sized murals on six walls along the historical streets of George Town in conjunction with the George Town Festival in 2012. The response was incredible, attracting tourists from near and far, drawing long lines just for a photograph with the pictures.
Ch’ng notes that BCAP will not just exist within those walls and only on those dates—he believes BCAP will continue to trailblaze art and culture for Penang, especially after the state government’s endorsement.
Ch’ng, along with the support of Penang State Exco Office for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) under the leadership of YB Wong Hon Wai, is bringing BCAP beyond Penang’s borders. They have partnered with artisans.io, embarking on a venture to get all the exhibitors online. BCAP is also set to be a large-scale art integrated platform in Asia Pacific.
“It is now time for Penang to reclaim its rightful place on the global stage,” Ch’ng says, “not just as a unique destination for our food, heritage and beaches, but also for business, art, tourism, and education, standing as a beacon of creativity and cultural richness.”
A concoction of oxymoronic attributes, Rachel Yeoh is a lazy overachiever. She is the assistant editor of Penang Monthly and sometimes finds herself performing a little something-something in front of an audience. Always planning for something to do while procrastinating on her bed, you’ll see her running to the door at any chance to travel.