New look for Air Itam Market Annex Food Court

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THE Air Itam Market Annex Food Court has been given a fresh look with the completion of a mural blind project by a group of students and teachers from Sense Perfect International College (SPIC) in Penang recently.

 

Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng said the project, which took about a month to complete from mid-March, was a collaborative effort between SPIC, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and his service centre.

 

Ng (fifth from left) with SPIC team members, including Leow (fourth from left) and Teh (third from left) posing in front of their blind murals.

 

“The place looked quite dull and we wanted to explore and see how we could brighten it up. We finally got SPIC to work together with us and show the public that the food court could look more pleasing.

 

“The SPIC team did a few paintings of the Air Itam iconic places, like Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si Temple, on a total of seven blinds.

 

SPIC students posing with a hawker in front of one of the murals they did at the Air Itam Market Annex Food Court.

 

“It’s also a CSR (corporate social responsibility) project by SPIC. We want to acknowledge their help and also to encourage more NGOs to work with the Penang government to enhance and decorate other public spaces,” Ng told a press conference at the food court.

 

Tan says she hopes that schools and colleges can collaborate with MBPP to beautify other MBPP food courts.

 

He also thanked MBPP councillor Tan Soo Siang for initiating the pilot project for the MBPP food court and discarding some not-so-beautiful banners.

 

The project cost about RM4,000.

 

Tan said she hoped that schools and colleges would be encouraged to cooperate with MBPP’s Licencing Department to improve the appearance of other food complexes.

 

Also present were MBPP Licencing Department officer (Health & Environment) officer Mazni Suaib, SPIC Rehneel Leow, her teachers and students, and art professor Jess Teh Aye Hui.

 

Leow (left) and Teh (right) are proud of the artwork contribution by SPIC students and teachers.

Leow said a team of 12 students and teachers from SPIC took part in the project and came out with ideas for the murals.

 

“We invited a professional artist (Jess Teh) to guide our students and teachers. We’re proud of their finished work and also the opportunity to contribute to beautifying the area,” Leow said.

 

In early 2021, Ng introduced an art project, called ‘My Home, Air Itam’ in which six murals and a sculpture were created for the township to boost tourism.

 

The murals included ‘Laksa’ by Dana Ng, ‘Curry Mee Ah Mah’ by Leonard and ‘Susu Tarik’ by bibichun that Air Itam is also famous for.

 

Story by K.H. Ong

Pix by Alissala Thian