Galloping Horizons: A Tribute to Lee Joo For

In welcoming the Year of the Horse, The Art Gallery, Penang is proud to present Galloping Horizons: A Tribute to Lee Joo For, a timely and meaningful exhibition honouring one of Malaysia’s most distinguished cultural figures, Lee Joo For (1929–2017). The exhibition brings together selected horse-themed works by Lee Joo For alongside contemporary artistic responses by Christine Das, Ethen Ng, Jason Min, Sumidik, and Yew Souf, forming a multi-generational dialogue on movement, endurance, and the human spirit.

Lee Joo For was a pioneering painter, educator, playwright, writer, and art critic whose contributions shaped Malaysian modern art and theatre. Described by the late Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal as “the symbolist painter”, Lee frequently employed rich symbolism to explore social, psychological, and spiritual themes. Among his most powerful and recurring motifs was the horse – a timeless emblem of strength, freedom, resilience, and inner momentum.

Galloping Horizons reflects on these enduring qualities through the lens of the Year of the Horse, inviting audiences to consider motion not merely as physical speed, but as cultural continuity, emotional resilience, and spiritual progress. The exhibition honours Lee Joo For’s legacy while opening new horizons through contemporary interpretations that echo his symbolic depth.

Do visit the preview of Galloping Horizons to view the artworks, or download the Galloping Horizons e-catalogue for your browsing pleasure.

The Art Gallery would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Penang Art Council for their generous support and for being the exhibition’s sponsorship partner.

Exhibition Period

23 January till 13 February 2026

Opening Hours

Friday to Sunday: 2.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
(Other times by appointment only)

Official Opening

25 January 2026 (Sunday) @ 2.00 p.m.
by Louise Goss-Custard
Treasurer of Penang Arts Council