Cover Artist Thomas Powell and founder of betterthanblouses Kang Pei Shern
Artist Thomas Powell and founder of betterthanblouses Kang Pei Shern
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Artist Thomas Powell and Better than Blouse’s founder Kang Pei Shern’s joint studio in Penang is their creative nexus
George Town Penang has seen a profound transformation in the last decade, with creatives starting to set up studios in pre-war shophouses, bringing new energy to this historic area. A couple who’ve done just that is Thomas Powell and Kang Pei Shern. Powell, a British artist, and Kang, the Penangite founder of fashion brand betterthanblouses; they share a studio space in a shophouse in Lebuh Melayu.
Powell, a painter who works predominantly on life-size murals and canvas, occupies the lower ground of the 3,000 sq ft space while Kang works out of her boutique upstairs, hand-making modern clothes from batik prints.
“This area feels very real, for want of a better word. Pei’s parents have an antique furniture business around the corner, and there is space for family and friends, especially for gatherings and a lot more room for our three cats,” says Powell. “This location also has everything we need to operate. We’re surrounded by shops and businesses that are privately owned and specialise in all the necessary tools, materials, and skill sets we could need for what we do.”
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Above The studio was furnished with eclectic pieces
The studio was furnished with eclectic pieces
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ARTISTIC ATELIER
The shophouse was a blank canvas of possibilities and fit their multi-faceted requirements—from the height of the ceilings to the open studio space and modular set- up. “This is very much a case of form following function but not in the normal sense as we didn’t have a hand in constructing the building.
"The arrangement of our things within denotes the form, and the ever-changing requirements of what we do are the function. This means that the space is constantly changing depending on the project or need at the time,” says Powell.
Kang add: “My boutique’s theme was to have a feel of a boudoir, a small private room for women to feel pretty in."
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Above Powell’s work can be seen leaning against surfaces and hung on walls
Powell’s work can be seen leaning against surfaces and hung on walls
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An older property also meant the couple had to accept the quirks that came along with it, something they embraced with gusto. “Houses in George Town come with their charms like uneven floors, peeling walls, and the occasional falling roof tile. We made do with what we had from our previous three spaces and used many pieces from my dad-in-law’s antique store,” says Powell. “We moved in just over two years ago; I still have unopened boxes. I immediately got a bunch of tools and have not stopped tweaking since.”
“Yeah, we like playing musical furniture,” muses Kang. “But some days, I want to throw everything away, be minimalist, and sit on the floor.”
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Above Art is also displayed on various heights and types of shelves
Art is also displayed on various heights and types of shelves
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Being an ample space with high ceilings has influenced the way they work. For starters, Powell observes that his work has gotten “much bigger” and that he is further inspired by the studio being on the ground floor and having an outside space.
The versatility of the space has allowed activities beyond creative pursuits: “We do everything we can here, watch TV, play games, and have family and friends over. It is quite useful as an impromptu event space but also has the capacity for properly planned events. It also works as a transitional space for betterthanblouses, and we recently planned Pei’s pop-up in KL by marking on the floor and moving things.”
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Above Kang’s boudoir-like boutique and studio is upstairs
Kang’s boudoir-like boutique and studio is upstairs
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Kang sums up: “Even though I grew up in Penang and have had access to other heritage houses like ours, this space had a very good energy about it. Maybe it's because of the colour palette of the house and the way light plays in the different spaces, especially from the airwell.”
The pleasant atmosphere of this shared space has also seen the incubation of the couple’s upcoming cross-disciplinary collaboration. Watch this space!
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Credits
Photography: David Yeow
Topics
Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
