A new cultural tourist landmark is set to open in Penang, an island off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, this December.
Funded by the chairman and founder of Chinese mining company CNMC, Professor Lin Xiangxiong, the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery is said to be the cornerstone of an ambitious vision to position Penang as a centre for cultural dialogue, with art as its language.
The mining magnate has invested 100 million yuan (US$14 million) in the project, which will showcase his lifetime of work as an established artist.
The 86,900 sq ft (8,070 square metre) space will feature a permanent display of more than 300 original works by Lin, supplemented by a rotating collection of more than 1,000 pieces.
Beyond the exhibition halls, the venue, at The Light Waterfront in the island’s biggest city, George Town, will include retail shops, a restaurant and a basement car park, creating a comprehensive cultural destination designed to engage both art enthusiasts and the general public.