But for Ipoh-born artist Koh Shim Luen, the beautiful architecture of these shophouses are what she comes to see.
The retired art teacher took numerous photographs and drew sketches of these buildings and of the narrow streets flanked by these magnificent buildings across a span of 30 years. Until recently, they were meant as a personal documentation of sorts.
Two years ago, she realised these beautiful buildings, the "works of art" she loves so dearly, are changing with the times; some destroyed due to the passage of time, some given drastic facelifts that changed the whole feel of the buildings and some defaced beyond recognition.
So, Koh started a massive project and painted the façade of these pre-war buildings using a mix of pencil, ink, watercolour and charcoal.
"Just the building itself is a work of art, an artifact. Just look at the beautiful carvings, the tiles, the wooden carved doors and windows," she said pointing to the details on some of her finished paintings.
All the paintings are meticulously, tediously and carefully sketched, drawn and painted based on her own collection of photographs and sketches which date from the 1980s up to 2010.
"I painted every detail and followed every line, every colour, every pattern on these buildings from the pictures I took so many years ago so what you see are the "before" façade of these buildings before they underwent changes in recent years," she said.
Koh painted more than 130 pieces on the different facades of various pre-war shophouses and also the street views of George Town and Malacca.
She is particularly fascinated with the combination of colourful tiles, the meticulous detailed motifs on the exterior walls and columns and the fancy carved wooden doors and windows.
"Just look at the whole structure, with the columns and the roof as the frame, these buildings are like paintings, works of art in themselves," she said.
The solo exhibition is co-organised by Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) and Atelier Art Space.
It is also held in aid of PHT where 20 per cent of the sales proceeds will go to the heritage watchdog.
Koh's works are also available in a postcard book titled The Straits Shophouse: George Town & Malacca.
The book and the art exhibition were launched last Sunday at the First Floor of The Star Pitt Street, 15, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.
The book, featuring 16 of Koh's works, will also be on sale at Areca Books' new outlet at the ground floor of The Star Pitt Street.
The exhibition is open to the public free of charge daily between 9am and 6pm and it ends on December 31.
Source : http://www.themalaymailonline.com/features/article/heritage-houses-in-malacca-and-george-town-captured-by-ipoh-born-artist
