THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF ARMENIAN PARK
SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW, THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF ARMENIAN PARK,
PENANG 1ST AUGMENTED REALITY PARK
17TH FEBRUARY 2023
YB Yeoh Soon Hin
Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy
YB Teh Lai Heng
Assemblyman for Komtar
Dr. Ang Ming Chee
General Manager of George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI)
Mr. Aboud Fares
Founder of Perk Reality
Ellen Ko
Taipei Economy and Cultural Office Director for Cultural Division
Distinguished guests,
Members of the media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
It is with great pleasure I welcome all of you here today for the Official Launching of Penang’s First Augmented Reality Park, the ARmenian Park. This is surely a momentous occasion for us all, as we unveil a new and exciting chapter in the history of this beautiful park, located right in the heart of our Georgetown UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In line with the state’s efforts to diversify recreation, sports, arts and culture, the Penang State Government is thrilled to introduce this newly upgraded park, which will provide visitors with an unparalleled experience using cutting-edge Augmented Reality, or in short, AR technology. Our aim is to create an innovative and interactive space for visitors to engage with art in a new dynamic way.
The Armenian Park is now an Open-Air Gallery, where visitors can enjoy an immersive experience that combines traditional physical art installations with cutting-edge digital technology. The AR technology utilized in the park merges the physical and digital worlds in new and exciting ways, allowing visitors to explore art from a new perspective.
Moreover, the AR technology can also provide visitors with additional information and context about the art on display. This can help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the work and appreciate it even more.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Art plays a significant role in the preservation of a country's cultural heritage. In Penang, art is an essential aspect of our cultural identity, reflecting our values, beliefs, and heritage. The AR Park brings together art and technology, providing visitors with a unique and innovative way to experience our cultural heritage, ultimately helping us to preserve it for future generations.
I should mention that technological advancement, particularly the arrival of the 5G era, has spawned a new trend of smart scenic spots, which bodes well for Penang's vision of becoming a smart state by 2030 while preserving our cultural heritage.
The park's AR technology also broadens the possibilities for displaying art in places other than galleries and museums. Accordingly, this will be our long-term expansion plan to enable more people to appreciate and experience art from different locations and perspectives.
As of right now, we believe that this AR Park will establish itself as a new landmark for Penang, attracting visitors from far and wide to experience the magic of AR technology and art. We hope that this park, will inspire creativity, innovation, and bring people together to experience something truly special, in line with the state’s Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focus Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the Penang Art District (PAD) and Perk Reality for their collaborative efforts in making this AR Park a reality. I was informed that PAD has provided funding of RM30,000 for the purchase and installation of AR technology in the park, with Perk Reality providing service and maintenance of the technology.
Not to mention, I would also like to express my heartfelt appreciation to YB Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy, for spearheading this initiative to further position Penang as a premier, sustainable, diversified and smart tourism destination.
With that said, I hereby, with great pleasure, officially declare the ARmenian Park, Penang’s First Augmented Reality Park, open. I invite you all to explore, experience, and enjoy this new addition to Penang's cultural landscape.
Thank you.