"Quiet Please (Street Fighters)" Sculpture

Street Fighters Sculpture (30 March 2013)


"Quiet Please" Sculpture (GPS: 5.41848, 100.34032), also known as "Street Fighters" Sculpture, is a steel-rod sculpture installed on Church Street, at the junction with King Street, in George Town, Penang. It depicts two "Chinamen" fighting in the streets while a priest watches in dismay from his window above. It was based on a caricature by well-known local cartoonist Reggie Lee.

The "Street Fighter" Sculpture offers a comic glimpse at history, though it does take creative license of the timeline. The sculpture mentions a Portuguese church. This would be the Church of the Assumption, which was founded by Eurasians, who trace their ancestry to the Portuguese arriving in this region in the 16th century.

The Church of the Assumption was at Church Street until 1857, but even before that, the parishers had begun moving away to live in places such as Argus Lane. The Ghee Hin Society did have its headquarters along Church Street (which intersects with King Street, a largely Cantonese enclave) at the site of present-day Pinang Peranakan Museum.

The Ghee Hins were at Church Street until 1890, when they relocated to Rope Walk, where their hall, Meng Eng Soo, is still standing today. I cannot say whether they engaged in sight fighting on Church Street, as the sculpture suggests. If they did, it probably happened during the Penang Riots of 1867. But that was ten years after the church had moved to Farquhar Street, so it's not possible for the priest to have witnessed the fighting below his window.

Getting there

The "Street Fighters" Sculpture is located on the wall on Church Street, at the intersection with King Street. It is within walking distance from the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal. From the terminal, cross Weld Quay, then turn right and walk along the street until you reach Church Street Ghaut. Turn left, walk along Church Street Ghaut, cross Beach Street and continue on Church Street until you arrive at the sculpture on your left.

List of Steel-Rod Sculptures by Reggie Lee, Marking George Town Sculptures and Penang Street Art