Palai Penang

About

Palai Penang is the third edition of Palai, an itinerant exhibition organised by Paris based Galerie Balice Hertling to present international contemporary artworks in heritage homes. The first two editions of Palai were held in a historic palazzo in the center of Lecce, Italy.

Blank Canvas, a non-profit art space in Penang, Malaysia, is delighted to collaborate with Galerie Balice Hertling to present Palai Penang in Malaysia from 21 March to 14 April 2024. The exhibition will be presented at the Homestead at WOU (Wawasan Open University) the exclusive venue sponsor. It marks the first time that Palai will be presented in Asia.

The word “palai” means “palace” in the Apulian dialect of the Griko people, an ethnic  Greek community in southern Italy. Its etymological origin lies in the Latin palātum or palate, which refers to the origin of taste and judgment. And it is not surprising that the word “palace” usually conjures up an immediate image of a grand space of imposing architectural features and housing precious and tasteful objects. Yet, and perhaps less immediately intuitive, a “palace” is also a residence, or a home, which then evokes the more intimate feelings of ease and relaxation as one is welcomed into the home of another.

Palai Penang presents in one of Penang’s largest and most elegant colonial mansions – Homestead. Built in 1919 and designed by architect James Stark, Homestead was acquired by the Penang businessman and philanthropist Yeap Chor Ee during the 1940s. Mr Yeap’s grandson and the trustees of his estate donated Homestead to the WOU (Wawasan Open University) in 2006. Although Homestead may be a continent away from the Italian palazzo of the earlier editions of Palai, they share in common the ability to awe and impress visitors as well as, perhaps surprisingly, echoes of an Italian architectural lineage. It is both fate and serendipity that the grand neo-classical details of Homestead’s architecture appear to be inspired by a sixteenth century Italian villa designed by Andrea Palladio.

Palai Penang gathers a selected group of international art galleries from East and Central Asia, the Americas and Europe into a single venue, offering access to international artists and artistic practices to local visitors in Malaysia. In addition to Blank Canvas, the art galleries participating in Palai Penang are Balice Hertling (Paris, France), Delgosha (Tehran, Iran), Ermes Ermes (Rome, Italy), LC Queisser (Tbilisi, Georgia), Isla Flotante (Buenos Aires, Argentina), and PHD Group (Hong Kong SAR, China).

At Palai Penang, the participating galleries present a diverse range of contemporary artistic practices within the environs of a classical building. These include video works, installations, collages, paintings and sculpture. Some works are ephemeral. While others, especially those of Penang-based artists Okui Lala, Chan Kok Hooi and Hoo Fan Chon, are inspired directly by, and respond poignantly to, the architecture and history of the exhibition venue.

As with the previous editions, Palai Penang seeks to inspire various conversations – between the contemporary art works presented by the participating international galleries and the historical architecture and ambiance of its venue, among the artworks themselves, between the international artists and the local artists featured and, of course, among the visitors.