Maizul

April 9, 2026
Penang Institute.

Bringing students from Diploma in Mass Comm (Persuasive advertising subject and Comm Project) and Degree Students (Theses 1 and 2 under my supervision) to the Creative Economy Industry Final Forum, organized by Penang Living Lab in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, provided a valuable experiential learning opportunity that extended beyond the traditional classroom setting.

The forum served as a dynamic platform for students to gain real-world insights into the creative industry in Penang, including design, digital media, cultural heritage, and creative entrepreneurship.

Through panel discussions, presentations, and networking sessions, students gained first-hand knowledge from industry practitioners, policymakers, and academics.

This engagement enabled them to better understand current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the creative economy, particularly in Penang, a growing hub for innovation and cultural production. The forum also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainability, and the role of technology in shaping creative industries.

Participating in this event encouraged students to critically reflect on their academic learning and relate it to practical industry applications. It also enhanced their awareness of potential career pathways and inspired them to consider how their skills and knowledge can contribute to the creative economy.

Overall, the experience fostered deeper learning, broadened perspectives, and strengthened the connection between education and industry practice

'sneek peek'
PLLACE
Final Conference

April 9
2026
Penang Institute

photo credit: Ian Barbosa and Teoh Wei Han

Setting Up Process Mode
See you tomorrow!

Almost 15 years since my last 2nd solo exhibition with this style back in Oct 2011, the satirical wall piece is given the title 'POPaganda' at AWAS (artworks/artspace).
Glad to be coming back with the style again as the title MULAseMULA looks like I'm restarting again with this hardship process but a bit struggling with commitment of time, health, and energy.

Alhamdulilah I'm happy with the outcomes that took me almost 5 years to complete the whole series for 6th solo.

“Congratulations, Jack Teoh (Our Final Year in Degree in Media Production student, Mass Communication, UOW Malaysia KDU Penang UC).

Your accomplishment in securing international recognition as the official photographer for the Rock Climbing Competition representing Malaysia and Singapore at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand is commendable.

This achievement reflects your expanding professional capabilities, dedication to the craft, and growing presence within the regional sporting arena. Well done and continue striving for excellence.”

Dec 6
I visited ‘in i remember', Sharon SS Kow’s solo exhibition at Hin Bus Depot last evening, & I found myself transported into a world shaped by childhood toys from the 70s, 80s, and even the 90s (guli, circular shapener with mirror, bubble blower, plastic soldiers, bulu tangkis sepak raga, gasing, and many more to mention) - An era of 'Gen X' childhood, before the internet & social media consumed our attention and pace of living. Sharon draws from memory, evoking toys and textures many of us grew up with, and in doing so, brings back not just visuals, but a kind of innocence & tactility we rarely encounter today.

Her hyper-realistic colored pencil works (Faber-Castell) demand a slower form of looking. Each piece invites a pause, as if asking the viewer to breathe and return to a quieter time. The precision in her technique—her control of material, patience, and discipline—is unmistakable. It is the kind of mastery only achievable through years of commitment to hyper-realism.

What stands out most is her attention to the smallest physical details: bubbles, plastic creases, fibers, feathers, and the rust of aluminum. These are not merely replicated—they are studied. Light direction, shadow temperature, reflected color, surface tension—every texture is built through layered hues rather than single flat tones. Her colors are not applied; they are constructed. Through texture, we understand the object.

The making process behind such work is slow and almost meditative. Depending on scale and complexity, one drawing may take anywhere from 20 to over 200 hours. Each artwork is built meticulously, section by section, refined and reworked with care. You cannot rush hyper-realism. If you rush, the viewer will know. And this is what sets In I Remember apart—Sharon does not rush. She respects the memory and she respects the craft.

Her work is not only skillful; it is emotional. It reminds us what it felt old time instead of scroll through it.

Thank you for inviting me. Tahniah segulung ucapan dan kasih sayang, Congratulations to my big sister Sharon Siew Suan Kow on your ‘osemly’ solo exhibition.

The exhibition is still going on til 4th January 2026 at Hin Bus Depot, Penang.

I attended the BMS Bakat Mahasiswa programme at MGTF, USM Penang, where the central discussion focused on the development of the youth ecosystem within the art scene and industry. The session was intellectually stimulating, particularly in terms of gaining insights into the perspectives and future directions proposed by experts from galleries, institutions, education sectors, and practicing artists. Although I was unable to stay for the full duration of the event, I deeply appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces within the art community.