"Isle to Isle: Taiwan Design Week (島嶼島：臺灣設計週)," organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, will be launched at the George Town Festival in Penang. As part of the festival, Taiwanese design projects will be displayed at a design exhibition titled "Beyond Aesthetics," which will run from July 16 to 24.
"Beyond Aesthetics" consists of four major themes: public architecture, arts and cultural events planning, regional anthropology, and popular culture. A range of artworks including design scripts, paintings, visual images, sculptures, and models will be on display. Among the exhibits include "Pakelang (八歌浪)," the Amis ancient ballad album which previously won the 2022 Best Recording Package at the Grammys; "Kiss your Eyes," the debut album of The White Eyes (白目樂隊) which won the Best Recording Package at the 22nd Golden Melody Awards; visual design of the acclaimed drama "Gold Leaf (茶金)" as well as the sketches of the Taipei Music Center.
Apart from the exhibition, two engaging themed forums – "Inspiring Beauty" and "Design and Community Power" – will be held alongside the exhibition. Taiwanese and Malaysian experts will be invited to the exchange forums, to share how design drives the energy of cities and social developments. "Inspiring Beauty" will be held on July 16 and 17; "Power of Design & Community" will be held on July 23 and 24.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Festival is set to present a scaled-back – but equally exhilarating – physical format from 9 to 24 July 2022, with more than 80 programs covering visual art, theatre, music, dance, film, photography, and more. Based on the concept that art is everywhere and anywhere, the 16-day Festival is all set to create a unique experience for the public to discover and appreciate George Town’s cultural heritage with numerous ticketed and free artistic programs set to take place in various places across George Town and beyond.