‘Emerald Requiem: Murmurs of Lost Tears, Veiled in the Conflict’s Silence’ and ‘Lament of the Fallen: A Crimson Ballet on the Battlefield of Bodies’

Ivan Lam (he/him) (b. 1975) has established himself as one of Malaysia's most progressive contemporary artists. His commitment and unrelenting pursuit of his artistic journey have seen his works span a variety of mediums and ideas, which are inspired by popular culture, autobiography, current affairs and everyday vistas. With each series, he has become a maestro of different mediums; silk-screen, acrylic and oil painting, resin and aluminium. In Ivan Lam’s practice, every layer of his work is imbued with a sense of purpose and meaning.

Charting new territory for over two decades, he has conquered painting through his trademark use of resin, adding technical ingenuity while transforming narrative into hyper-reality. His practice has evolved conceptually, questioning authorship, the role of the artist and the very nature of art itself.

Multiple solo and group exhibitions locally and abroad plus awards have ensured his work is in the collections of reputed institutions worldwide. He was the first and only Malaysian artist selected to present a one-man project at the inaugural Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013, and the first Malaysian artist commissioned by Louis Vuitton for its collection in 2014. In 2017, he was the only artist from Malaysia invited to create a project for the Karachi Biennale, followed two years later in 2019 by his participation in the 58th Venice Biennale, where he was one of four Malaysian artists representing the country's first National Pavilion.