Cover Malaysian artist Ivan Lam with Catto (2024) (Photo: Wei-Ling Gallery)
Malaysian artist Ivan Lam with Catto (2024) (Photo: Wei-Ling Gallery)
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In this three-part series exploring quiet shifts to radical awakenings, four Malaysian artists at different stages of their careers—emerging talent Anas Afandi, mid-career voices Marcos Kueh and Sean Lean, and established name Ivan Lam—share candid reflections on success and the myths they’ve had to unlearn
They speak of an evolving relationship with their craft, revealing that beneath the public-facing work lies a deeply personal quest. It is a journey toward understanding and self-expression that transcends traditional markers of achievement.
Ivan Lam is one of Malaysia’s leading contemporary artists, renowned for his relentless experimentation with diverse techniques and mediums, including resin, silk-screen and conceptual installations, which consistently push the boundaries of his practice.
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Over a career spanning more than two decades, Lam’s works—often inspired by popular culture, autobiography and current affairs—have been widely exhibited both locally and internationally, earning him critical acclaim and inclusion in prestigious collections worldwide. He is celebrated for several landmark achievements, such as being the first Malaysian artist to present a solo project at Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013 and to be commissioned by Louis Vuitton, as well as representing Malaysia at the Venice Biennale’s first national pavilion in 2019.
Above Ivan Lam
Ivan Lam
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What first drew you to your art form, and what keeps you committed to it today?
I think it started with a desire to communicate things I didn’t have the words for. Art became a kind of personal language; a way to process and understand the world. Over time, that instinct deepened. Now, what keeps me committed is the process itself. It teaches me discipline, honesty and reminds me that not everything needs to be resolved quickly. I stay because I still have questions—and art is how I try to answer them.
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Can you describe a defining moment in your journey so far—whether it was a breakthrough, a setback or something else that shifted your perspective?
There have been many quiet shifts, but recently, being selected for the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) residency in New York felt significant. I’ll only be heading there in December 2025—but already, it’s changed the way I think about my work. It’s challenged me to be more intentional, to prepare for the unknown. I’m excited, nervous and deeply grateful. Sometimes the shift isn’t in the moment itself, but in the way you begin to carry yourself leading up to it.
990; colour markers and colour pencils on canvas on board
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How do you measure success at this stage in your career, and has that definition changed over time?
In the early days, success was about visibility—getting into shows, selling work, being noticed. That made sense then. But over time, it’s shifted. Now, I think success is about sustainability—can I keep doing this with integrity? Can I grow without burning out? Can I still be moved by what I make? If I can answer yes to any of that, then I feel like I’m on the right path.
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Art became a kind of personal language; a way to process and understand the world. Over time, that instinct deepened
What’s one myth about being an artist you’d like to debunk—something people misunderstand until they’re walking a mile in your shoes?
That art is all about inspiration [is a myth]. It’s really about showing up—on good days, bad days, in-between days. Most of it is repetition, doubt, editing, failing. The moments of inspiration are fleeting, and they don’t show up unless you’re already working [towards realising a project]. The myth of the tortured genius or magical muse overlooks the very real, very human effort behind the work.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out—and what’s a piece of advice you still hold on to yourself?
Start where you are. You don’t need to wait until it’s perfect or until you feel ready. No one ever really feels ready. Allow yourself to make bad work—it’s part of the process. Stay open. Stay curious. The advice I still return to is to trust the long game. Trends will come and go, but your voice will strengthen with time if you keep showing up for it.
Credits
Images: Courtesy of Ivan Lam and Wei-Ling Gallery
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