For Penang artist Lee Eng Beng, much of life’s meaning can be found in the things that happen every day. The familiar streets, neighbourhood stalls, traditional trades and quiet moments shared between parents and children all become subjects in Hari Hari, his first solo exhibition at AweGallery.

Running from 1 to 14 October 2026, the exhibition brings together a body of work shaped by Lee’s observations of Penang and his experience as a father. Its title, meaning “every day”, reflects the recurring rhythms that run through both aspects of his practice.

Island Scenes

Penang occupies a central place in Lee’s paintings. Rather than concentrating on the island’s recognisable landmarks, he is drawn to old shophouses, back lanes, roadside stalls and neighbourhood corners that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

His paintings also look at the people who inhabit these spaces, particularly craftsmen and workers whose daily routines contribute to the character of the city. Traditional trades are depicted not as staged cultural spectacles, but as part of ordinary working life: craftsmen practising skills passed down through generations, while labourers return after a day’s work to familiar hawker stalls and their usual meals.

There is a sense of nostalgia in these scenes, but Lee’s interest goes beyond simply recording a changing city. His paintings offer a personal view of a place he knows intimately, capturing details of everyday life that may look different as Penang continues to evolve.

All In The Family

This idea of continuity extends into the exhibition’s second major theme: fatherhood.

In these paintings, Lee turns from the streets of Penang to the relationship between fathers and children. The moments he depicts are similarly understated — companionship, affection, responsibility and simply being present as a child grows.

The connection between the two bodies of work becomes clearer through the exhibition’s central idea of repetition. Just as traditional craftsmen return to their work and workers revisit familiar places, parenthood is also shaped by the daily act of caring and showing up.

For Lee, the juxtaposition makes Hari Hari a more personal account of what shapes him. “The Penang scenes are not simply paintings of streets and buildings. They hold memories, familiarity and a strong sense of place,” he says. “What makes this exhibition especially meaningful is seeing these works alongside my paintings about fatherhood.”

At 59, Lee presents his first solo exhibition as a collection of places, people, traditions and relationships that have influenced his life and artistic practice. Together, the works encourage viewers to look more closely at moments that might otherwise seem unremarkable — and consider how those everyday experiences become part of personal and collective memory.

Hari Hari – A Way of Life runs from 1 to 14 October 2026 at AweGallery. The exhibition is open daily from 10.30am to 8.30pm.