ABOUT PICAF
The Penang International Container Art Festival (PICAF) was conceived as a public art initiative that brought street and urban art into different localities in Penang through an unconventional canvas — shipping containers.
Supported by the Penang State Government, the initiative sought to create a stronger sense of place by connecting art with the communities and surroundings in which the installations were originally presented. Drawing on local identities, culture and everyday life, the artworks offered artists a platform to interpret different facets of Penang while bringing large-scale art into public spaces.
THE STORY
PICAF was created with an ambition to push the boundaries of street and urban art while strengthening Penang’s position as a destination for artists and art enthusiasts. By bringing Malaysian and international artists together, the initiative encouraged diverse creative approaches while giving artists the opportunity to engage with Penang’s communities, culture and heritage.
The resulting works transformed shipping containers into large-scale public artworks, taking art beyond conventional spaces and placing it within the everyday environment. While each artist brought a distinctive style and perspective, the collection was united by its connection to Penang and the places in which the installations were originally created.
ABOUT THE ORGANISER
Can Can Public Art PLT is a creative public art and placemaking team that believes art in streets and public spaces can strengthen the connection between people and their surroundings. Through meaningful and relevant public art, Can Can Public Art seeks to create places that encourage people to engage, exchange ideas and see their environment from different perspectives.
Its approach to placemaking centres on using art not simply to transform a space visually, but also to inspire interaction, conversation and positive connections within the community.
