After debuting in May at the Taoyuan Department of Cultural Affairs in Taiwan, the “Penang–Taoyuan 2025 Watercolour Exchange Exhibition” travelled to Malaysia, opening at the SGM Penang Culture Centre from 9–24 August. The exhibition showcased 65 works by 18 Penang artists and 29 Taoyuan artists, attracting 1,760 visitors and receiving an enthusiastic response.

The exhibition was jointly organised by SGM Penang, the Taiwan International Watercolour Association, and the Taoyuan Watercolour Painting Association, with support from the Taoyuan Department of Cultural Affairs, the Penang State Legislative Assembly, and Yeow Chye Art Studio.

The opening ceremony, held on 10 August, was officiated by Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairperson YB Wong Hon Wai, who described the exhibition as both a visual feast and a cultural dialogue that transcends borders.

Meanwhile, SGM General Director Koh Sia Feai expressed that the collaboration between Penang and Taoyuan has built a bridge of friendship through art, enriching the diversity of watercolour art and further strengthening Malaysia–Taiwan cultural ties.

Taiwan International Watercolour Association honorary chairperson Lin Jen-Shan reflected on the history of artistic exchange between the two cities, calling the exhibition a model of cross-border collaboration.

In conjunction with the opening, an art talk titled “Symphony in Watercolour: A Dialogue of Malaysian and Taiwanese Watercolour Art” was held, moderated by SGM arts and exhibition head Vicky Ho. Lin Jen-Shan traced the evolution of Taiwanese watercolour from 1907 to the present, while Shireen Lee from Malaysian Watercolour Society outlined Malaysia’s development, shaped by colonial-era art education and multicultural influences.