PERSPECTIVE THROUGH ART

Ivan Lam explains how his latest exhibition bridges the gap between different worlds

- STUART DANKER

IVAN LAM IS no stranger to the art scene and has garnered much credibility to his name. Examples of these pursuits include being the first Malaysian to have a solo exhibition in Art Basel Hong Kong 2013, or to have his work commissioned and featured by renowned luxury brand Louis Vuitton.

And he’s added another feather to his cap through his latest exhibition at Wei-Ling Contemporary in Kuala Lumpur last April. This exhibition, titled Blind Side, takes on a very personal touch, a term that, in this case, applies quite literally.

This is because Blind Side caters to a demographic that is often excluded from the world of art – the visually impaired. He does this by including meaningful passages in braille so that the blind can interact with his art, and ‘see’ things that sighted people cannot. It’s this bridging of gaps between worlds that Lam enjoys the most.

“I believe that art has the power to bring people together and ignite meaningful conversations about important issues,“ Lam said. “My art is a platform for me to share my perspective and engage with the audience, and I hope that it can inspire people to think differently about the world around them.”

This juxtaposition between images for the sighted and messages for the blind brings an added layer of meaning to his works. For instance, in his first piece, Blindsight, Lam separates the canvas into two parts: a bigger white section, and a smaller painting below.