Art
Unfolding Ivan Lam’s TWENTY
Get to know the man who has charted new territory in Malaysia’s contemporary art scene.
From within the saturated throng of contemporary artists stands Ivan Lam, one of those rare few who have transcended boundaries and evolved his art with time.
With two decades of experience under his belt, he has been exhibited widely – both locally and internationally – and has also garnered multiple awards. Hence it is no surprise that Red Bull has decided to invite him to be part of the judging panel for the Eh Wau Bulan campaign.
Given his extraordinary achievements and maturity, Ivan’s expectations for submitted art is set to a much deeper standard. “We live in an instant-culture where people want instant gratification by creating in quantities, instead of taking their time with the process. I will be looking for something that is more than just a beautiful piece,” he says.
We sat down with him to gain some insight into his thoughts and experiences.
In your 20 years as an artist, how do you think the art industry has advanced in Malaysia?
It has certainly grown by leaps & bounds; you can tell by simply looking at the sheer amount of galleries that has grown from 5 to 60.
Your range of work is very diverse – from silkscreen printing to portraits and painting. What is your favorite medium to work with?
It would be the medium that best conveys the message I'm trying to send out through my work. I don’t believe in sticking to just one particular medium because there’re a variety of mediums – so it’s a matter of which would back up the message better.
As far as you can recall, what was your very first piece of artwork?
In pre-school, I drew an elaborate pencil work of a scene in the mall. Back then, malls were so scarce that I remembered every single detail I saw during my visit. My teacher showed it to the class and that made it quite memorable.
Tell us about the tough times in your career and what you have learnt from it.
Those were moments of failures and falling down. My journey is fraught with much resistance, but I have since learnt to take every failure as the next step to success.
If you could go back in time, what would your current self tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self, “you're doing a good job, don't be so hard on yourself. Let it go and allow yourself to grow.” After all, we are our own harshest critic and the best works are always created in times of conflict.
What traits do you think are required, in order to be a successful artist?
Hard work and learning how to be good at applying yourself. An artist has to make a connection with the outside world, meet real people to get themselves out there and not rely solely on social media.
In your opinion, in all of human history, which was the best era for art?
Right now. This is the only moment where we can change the future.
If art was a superpower, what would you want to do with it?
I would make heroes out of the most ordinary people. The people who clean the streets and pick up the garbage. We don't see them but they are the ones who make everyone else’s life more bearable – they are the unsung heroes of our society.
Tell us, what sort of works will you be looking for as a panel judge for the #EHWAUBULAN campaign?
It’s very subjective, but in a nutshell, I want to see works of people who try with real gusto – so much that their failures and successes show on their work. I want to peel behind the making of their masterpiece and see the journey that has brought them to this final point.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists out there?
Gaining success as an artist is hard work, and you have to be prepared to give before you can get. Don’t hold back. There are way too many talented people out there who have slipped through the cracks of success because they lack the motivation to put in the hours and persevere.
Here are some of Ivan Lam’s best works as he shares what they mean to him.
Tower 2, 2002
Tower 2 (2002)
© Ivan Lam
This was painted in response to the 9-11 tragedy. It was an event that shook the entire world. Tower 2 represents the horror of terrorism amidst all the wonder of colors on Earth.
Animal Stories for My Daughter and Michael, 2009
Animal Stories for My Daughter and Michael (2009)
© Ivan Lam
This piece was painted on my studio’s floor, hence the splashes and paint collected over time. This piece tells us that anything can take on a new life, if you breathe life into it.
Prawn, 2010
Prawn (2010)
© Ivan Lam
I have always been fascinated with Chinese characters, but I never knew how to read or write them. This has earned me the reputation of being a banana (a term for Chinese people who don’t know their mother tongue) but that doesn't mean I can’t turn my fascination into inspiration.
Flower (You Never Forget My Birthdays), 2005
Flower (You Never Forget My Birthdays) (2005)
© Ivan Lam
I was just beginning to learn how to paint when I created this piece. I had also picked the most difficult composition and image to learn. To me, this piece is all about jumping into the deep end and learning to either swim or drown.
Now, it’s your turn. Tell us your journey through art and find out how to submit it here: www.redbull.my/ehwaubulan
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