Hin Bus Depot Hipster Art Center in George Town is the local entrepreneur community art space in artsy Penang.
Built in 1947, the Hin Bus Depot was run by the bus company Hin Company.
The Hin Bus used to ply the Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang routes.
Most seniors will remember Penang’s ‘blue busses’ fondly.
Many years after the Hin Company closed, the depot was left vacant and derelict.
It was almost unheard of when Tan Shih Theo and his business partners bought the place.
It wasn’t a landmark location that would draw in hoards of Saturday Night party-goers or Sunday weekend shoppers.
The few buildings on site were derelict and a haunt for drug addicts and wage bonds.
Looking at the buildings’ state, there wasn’t much that could be done to inject life into space.
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The old, disused Hin Bus Company building.
Walk in past the parked vehicles; the garden opens up on your right. Photo: Doris Lim
Contents
What is Hin Bus Depot?
Hin Bus Depot is an art and events space in George Town, Penang.
Established in 2014, the space is run by a small creative collective that curates the area’s contents.
- art exhibitions
- parties
- music gigs
- theatre productions
- festivals
- fashion events
- brand launch
The Hin Bus Depot space started with only an exhibition, and the outdoor stage has now expanded with new businesses joining the ‘Hin Family.’
- cafes
- restaurants
- bars
Hin Bus Depot supports and showcases progressive and upcoming artists, artworks, events, and art forms.
Mural Artist Ernest Zacharevic’s Works on Permanent Display at Hin Bus Depot
In 2014, the young Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic transformed the dilapidated Art Deco-style building, using the bare walls as his canvas.
The old depot was cleaned up and used to host Zacharevic’s first solo exhibition, “Art is Rubbish is Art.”
Zacharevic’s art depicts the local culture.
He has a knack for blending his art into the original structure.
It seeps unadulterated into the cracks of the old lime-washed walls.
The dilapidated condition is preserved as part of the art, and this sets the depot on its creative path as more innovative ideas are poured in.
Hin Bus Depot on Jalan Gurdwara, George Town, was transformed into an art exhibition gallery and a lively Sunday Pop-up Market.
Other artists added more murals and sculptures over the last five years.
Artist Ernest Zacharevic’s Backbend Girl was painted on crumbled walls of the old Hin Bus Depot. Photo: Wholey Wonder FB Page
Artist Hiroyasu Tsuri, known as TwoOne, painted this black and white tiger mural.
New metal sculpture at the Lawn. Photo: Doris Lim
A charming old trishaw at Hin Bus Depot. Photo: Doris Lim
Hipster Trading Post
The Sunday Pop-up Market grew organically and is now a hub for arts, crafts, food, and urban farms.
This path has encouraged the space to grow and inspire creativity in every sense of the word.
Although the stall owners have changed over the years, some remain. Familiar faces are now part of this vibrant community of artists and friends.
Tan, who manages Hin Bus Depot, said he gets many requests from local entrepreneurs who want to rent a space there.
Hin does not look for tenants who look to the venue purely for commercialized ventures.
There is only one primary criterion in accepting a tenant. It is a passion.
“We strongly believe in supporting these small businesses in our community. The benefits are tremendous.”
In the Hin Bus Depot Gallery
Over the past three years, the gallery space has held numerous art exhibitions and is almost always fully booked.
The art gallery is managed by Wanida Razali, who has curated some fascinating exhibitions over the years.
Apart from the art gallery, there is an open-air deck for events, a garden, and open spaces with murals by Zacharevic and sculptures by other artists.
Check out the curated exhibition dates here.
One of the exhibits that I liked! You might fall in love with the “voice”. LOL <or run away…>
The simple painted sign says it all: Sunday Pop-Up Market, Coffee, Cakes, and Food from 11 am to 5 pm.
Tenants around Hin Bus Depot
Hin Bus Depot has since become a catalyst for turning this part of Brick Kiln Road into an arts precinct.
Artsy cafes have flourished in the surrounding vicinity, and the depot continues to attract artists and art lovers.
Each time I visit the Hin Bus Depot, I find an exciting, fun art show or a new creative exhibition by a local artist that you should check out before heading off for dinner across Presgrave Street.
Old Shophouses next to Hin Bus Depot
The rows of shophouses flanking the depot form part of the growing hipster community of Hin Bus Depot.
Some of these shophouses still have old tenants, such as a coffee shop, a hardware shop, and a motorcycle repair shop.
Other shophouses were restored and converted into new spaces for local small businesses.
As a city grows, it becomes more sophisticated, and hipster cafes and themed coffee outlets flourish.
The growing business community began to look at different ways to package products creatively.
Today, the depot has around 20 different business outlets under its roof.
Hin Bus Depot’s unconventional business model would appeal to travelers’ younger set and urban dwellers tired of mall culture.
Check out fragrant aromatic herbs drying naturally under the sun at Hin Bus Depot, George Town City’s arts hub.
At Hin Bus Depot, Food Trucks and Capsules serve hot and cold drinks or a quick bite on the go.
Bricklin Café & Bar
Bricklin Cafe Bar was inspired by ‘Brick Kiln Road,’ known as Jalan Gurdwara.
The café opened in 2014 and remained the anchor cafe at the entrance.
The cozy nook serves light meals, cakes, tasty drinks, and a great cuppa coffee, making it a little haven for escaping the scorching sun.
Photo: Bricklin Café & Bar
The Swagger Salon
With its brand “LANSI” — cocky, or arrogant, in the local dialect is the brainchild of hip-hop enthusiast Penangite Shen who grew up dabbling in rap music and graffiti art.
Photo: The Swagger Salon
Wholey Wonder Vegan Cafe and Yoga Studio
Hipster vegan café Wholey Wonder, specializing in nourishing plant-based food, serves a Western menu in the city, including burgers, pizzas, cakes, and even Briyani Quinoa.
The cafe’s food is a medley of flavors and textures made from fresh fruit, including kale, hemp seed, coconut water, barley grass, wheatgrass, and cashew cream.
There are yoga classes in the studio above the Wholey Wonder cafe for yoga enthusiasts.
Photo: Wholey Wonder
The Black Market (Glass House)
This little drinks counter, tucked away in the beautiful Glass House, offers fresh Cold-Pressed Juices (real fruit juice—no sugar, no water added), Milkshakes, Coffee, Tea, and Wine.
One of the best finds is a locally crafted beer called Ang Mo Lang Teh (紅毛人; “red-haired people”)
On a hot day, enjoy snow beer, which tastes like frozen Tiger beer. Chill with your drinks on the open wooden air deck.
I like my long black made by Austin!
Other tiny huts within the depot’s grounds house arts and crafts shops worth checking out.
The Glass House.
The Black Market Menu.
Check out the small huts in the garden.
Turn in from the car park area to the Sunday Pop-Up Market.
Sunday Hin Pop-Up Market
It’s only natural that the next step is a social trading post that appeals to all ages and spans across the culture.
The Sunday Hin Pop-Up Market repurposed the old building and injected life.
The Hin Pop-Up Market was mooted to showcase their products and talent as a platform for local entrepreneurs.
A large open-sided shed was adjacent to the Gallery to maximize space usage.
The weekly market was perfect for young entrepreneurs to trade.
The owners purposely keep the rental low to attract regular traders.
These traders sell crafts, leather goods, skincare products, food, plants, and other goodies in a chill-out atmosphere.
Those who want to take up a spot can apply for a place at the depot.
The open atmosphere at Hin Bus Depot and the warmth of the community of vendors and customers continue to attract traders to the Sunday Market.
Sunday Hin Pop-Up Market Stalls.
Sunday Hin Pop-Up Market Stall.
Artist Patrick Hurley has a stall with his B&W rendering of Penang’s shophouses.
There are several food stalls, including one selling Assam Laksa.
Smart Dory was enjoying a great Sunday at Hin Pop-Up Market.
How do I get to Hin Bus Depot?
Hin Sunday Pop-Up Market
Hin Bus Depot, 31, Jalan Gurdwara, George Town, 10300, Penang
Opening Hours: 11:00 am until 5:00 pm every weekend
Entrance: FREE
Google: https://g.co/kgs/SP2Ltxc
