Outlook: Contemporary Malaysian Paintings
G13 Gallery is proud to present Outlook: Contemporary Malaysian Paintings, an online-exclusive exhibition that highlights the diverse and dynamic practices of a new generation of Malaysian artists. This showcase marks a significant moment in the gallery’s digital journey, offering a curated glimpse into the evolving language of contemporary painting in Malaysia.
Through this presentation, G13 continues its commitment to supporting emerging voices, fostering artistic growth and amplifying Malaysian talent on a global stage. By debuting on Artsy, the world’s leading platform for discovering and collecting art, the gallery invites collectors and audiences worldwide to explore the vibrant energy, experimentation, and cultural perspectives shaping Malaysia’s visual art landscape today.
57°25'25''N 6°47'17''W (Vertical)
Syed Fakaruddin
183 x 61cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
In the Google Vacation series, given Google Earth coordinates as titles, Syed Fakaruddin invites viewers into a surreal, aspirational escape, an imagined digital utopia that flirts with the idea of a luxury far beyond immediate reach. This work is less about literal travel and more about internal freedom, the luxury of dreaming in full colour.
Using an advanced and methodical technique that demands both patience and meditative precision, Syed weaves a delicate balance of lines and forms. The resulting pattern is not accidental. His approach mirrors the quiet persistence of someone navigating ambition through discipline, a process that transforms complexity into clarity.
The tower stone arrangement within the composition offers a great positive message for life. It symbolizes strength, balance, and the beauty of building upward with intention and care.
57°25'25''N 6°47'17''W (Vertical)
Syed Fakaruddin
183 x 61cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
In the Google Vacation series, given Google Earth coordinates as titles, Syed Fakaruddin invites viewers into a surreal, aspirational escape, an imagined digital utopia that flirts with the idea of a luxury far beyond immediate reach. This work is less about literal travel and more about internal freedom, the luxury of dreaming in full colour.
Using an advanced and methodical technique that demands both patience and meditative precision, Syed weaves a delicate balance of lines and forms. The resulting pattern is not accidental. His approach mirrors the quiet persistence of someone navigating ambition through discipline, a process that transforms complexity into clarity.
The tower stone arrangement within the composition offers a great positive message for life. It symbolizes strength, balance, and the beauty of building upward with intention and care.
Element
Izzuddin Basiron
183 x 122cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2023
Artwork reflects Malaysia’s rapid development and its vision as both a financial centre and a vibrant place to live. Using bold geometry, abstract structures and vivid colour, Basiron captures the momentum of urban growth and national progress.
The colourful palette conveys optimism, turning city elements into symbols of a hopeful, dynamic future. ‘Konkrit Metrik’ emphasizes structure and order, while ‘Reconstruction Projects’ suggests change as renewal and continuity.
This series celebrates advancement and imagines a built environment shaped by both planning and creativity. Basiron offers a positive view of development as a foundation for thriving, inclusive communities.
Element
Izzuddin Basiron
183 x 122cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2023
Artwork reflects Malaysia’s rapid development and its vision as both a financial centre and a vibrant place to live. Using bold geometry, abstract structures and vivid colour, Basiron captures the momentum of urban growth and national progress.
The colourful palette conveys optimism, turning city elements into symbols of a hopeful, dynamic future. ‘Konkrit Metrik’ emphasizes structure and order, while ‘Reconstruction Projects’ suggests change as renewal and continuity.
This series celebrates advancement and imagines a built environment shaped by both planning and creativity. Basiron offers a positive view of development as a foundation for thriving, inclusive communities.
Trapped or Caught
Izzuddin Basiron
122 x 122cm
Mixed Media on Canvas
2025
Trapped or Caught uses bold, colourful geometric structures as a metaphor for power and control in today’s world. The work takes visual inspiration from well-known buildings like the TRX Tower, which stands for development but is also linked to growing issues of corruption. The bright, crisscrossing bars show how promises of development can sometimes trap us instead of setting us free.
Trapped or Caught
Izzuddin Basiron
122 x 122cm
Mixed Media on Canvas
2025
Trapped or Caught uses bold, colourful geometric structures as a metaphor for power and control in today’s world. The work takes visual inspiration from well-known buildings like the TRX Tower, which stands for development but is also linked to growing issues of corruption. The bright, crisscrossing bars show how promises of development can sometimes trap us instead of setting us free.
Auspicious Snake
Fawwaz Sukri
Acrylic on canvas
120 x 90cm
2025
The Year of the Snake symbolizes transformation, adaptability and resilience, qualities mirrored in urban life. Just as a snake sheds its skin, cities evolve, requiring individuals to adapt and grow.
The snake’s mysterious nature reflects the hidden layers of the city, where people navigate challenges with wisdom and intuition. It also symbolizes fortune and opportunity, much like the city’s endless possibilities for those who embrace change. This connection highlights the urban experience as one of constant renewal, resilience, and the pursuit of new beginnings.
Auspicious Snake
Fawwaz Sukri
Acrylic on canvas
120 x 90cm
2025
The Year of the Snake symbolizes transformation, adaptability and resilience, qualities mirrored in urban life. Just as a snake sheds its skin, cities evolve, requiring individuals to adapt and grow.
The snake’s mysterious nature reflects the hidden layers of the city, where people navigate challenges with wisdom and intuition. It also symbolizes fortune and opportunity, much like the city’s endless possibilities for those who embrace change. This connection highlights the urban experience as one of constant renewal, resilience, and the pursuit of new beginnings.
Fragmented Memory I
Fawwaz Sukri
32(H) x 20(W) x 10(D)cm
Acrylic & Acrylic Resin on Brick
2025
In Fragmented Memory, the artist explores the notion of recollection through the creation of artefacts that resemble fragments of old architectural structures. Using lightweight bricks coated with acrylic resin for surface protection, he reconstructs pieces reminiscent of decaying cinema walls. Murals are painted onto these surfaces, featuring popular actors and iconic films from the 1970s. These visual elements evoke a spark of memory for those who lived during that era, drawing on both conscious and unconscious recollections. Through this work, the artist reflects on the impermanence of memory and the lingering presence of cultural nostalgia embedded in physical ruins.
Fragmented Memory I
Fawwaz Sukri
32(H) x 20(W) x 10(D)cm
Acrylic & Acrylic Resin on Brick
2025
In Fragmented Memory, the artist explores the notion of recollection through the creation of artefacts that resemble fragments of old architectural structures. Using lightweight bricks coated with acrylic resin for surface protection, he reconstructs pieces reminiscent of decaying cinema walls. Murals are painted onto these surfaces, featuring popular actors and iconic films from the 1970s. These visual elements evoke a spark of memory for those who lived during that era, drawing on both conscious and unconscious recollections. Through this work, the artist reflects on the impermanence of memory and the lingering presence of cultural nostalgia embedded in physical ruins.
Fragmented Memory II
Fawwaz Sukri
32(H) x 24(W) x 10(D)cm
Acrylic & Acrylic Resin on Brick
2025
In Fragmented Memory, the artist explores the notion of recollection through the creation of artefacts that resemble fragments of old architectural structures. Using lightweight bricks coated with acrylic resin for surface protection, he reconstructs pieces reminiscent of decaying cinema walls. Murals are painted onto these surfaces, featuring popular actors and iconic films from the 1970s. These visual elements evoke a spark of memory for those who lived during that era, drawing on both conscious and unconscious recollections. Through this work, the artist reflects on the impermanence of memory and the lingering presence of cultural nostalgia embedded in physical ruins.
Fragmented Memory II
Fawwaz Sukri
32(H) x 24(W) x 10(D)cm
Acrylic & Acrylic Resin on Brick
2025
In Fragmented Memory, the artist explores the notion of recollection through the creation of artefacts that resemble fragments of old architectural structures. Using lightweight bricks coated with acrylic resin for surface protection, he reconstructs pieces reminiscent of decaying cinema walls. Murals are painted onto these surfaces, featuring popular actors and iconic films from the 1970s. These visual elements evoke a spark of memory for those who lived during that era, drawing on both conscious and unconscious recollections. Through this work, the artist reflects on the impermanence of memory and the lingering presence of cultural nostalgia embedded in physical ruins.
Big Girls Do Cry
Nik M Shazmie
91 x 91cm
Acrylics and Acrylic-based Paint Markers on Canvas
2025
“Big Girls Do Cry” explores the quiet grief of growing up, the inevitable loss of childhood innocence and the silent pressures that come with it. The tearful girl clutches her doll, a fragile remnant of a world that is slipping away, while ghostly figures loom around her, whispering the unspoken command: grow up, let go, move on. These spectral forces are not just external; they are the echoes of time, the weight of expectations, the realization that innocence is not meant to last. Through distorted lines and haunting presence, this piece captures the bittersweet moment when a child realizes she can no longer stay small, even if she’s not ready to be big.
Big Girls Do Cry
Nik M Shazmie
91 x 91cm
Acrylics and Acrylic-based Paint Markers on Canvas
2025
“Big Girls Do Cry” explores the quiet grief of growing up, the inevitable loss of childhood innocence and the silent pressures that come with it. The tearful girl clutches her doll, a fragile remnant of a world that is slipping away, while ghostly figures loom around her, whispering the unspoken command: grow up, let go, move on. These spectral forces are not just external; they are the echoes of time, the weight of expectations, the realization that innocence is not meant to last. Through distorted lines and haunting presence, this piece captures the bittersweet moment when a child realizes she can no longer stay small, even if she’s not ready to be big.
It's A Beautiful Life
Shafiq Nordin
120 x 100cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
The genie serves as a metaphorical representation of a figure that fulfills wishes and provides what is desired by its master. In this work, the artist employs the genie character as an allegory for a father who endeavors to provide the best for his child. This task, however, is fraught with difficulties and necessitates numerous sacrifices, particularly in a world that presents significant challenges. The bond between father and son is unequivocal, with the child invariably perceiving the father as an idol and superhero.
It's A Beautiful Life
Shafiq Nordin
120 x 100cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
The genie serves as a metaphorical representation of a figure that fulfills wishes and provides what is desired by its master. In this work, the artist employs the genie character as an allegory for a father who endeavors to provide the best for his child. This task, however, is fraught with difficulties and necessitates numerous sacrifices, particularly in a world that presents significant challenges. The bond between father and son is unequivocal, with the child invariably perceiving the father as an idol and superhero.
Terrarium - Evolution
Shafiq Nordin
100 x 80cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
In Shafiq Nordin’s work, terrariums, also known as garden under glass, serve as a metaphor for the artist’s studio, a peaceful sanctuary free from distractions. Shafiq sees art as a therapy for artists, that can give peace of mind and have a positive impact on himself and the environment. Creating a serene and distraction-free setting, terrariums contribute to positive mental health and aid in boosting concentration and productivity levels. It is very helpful in the artist's daily life to get inspiration to produce the best ideas and works.
Terrarium - Evolution
Shafiq Nordin
100 x 80cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
In Shafiq Nordin’s work, terrariums, also known as garden under glass, serve as a metaphor for the artist’s studio, a peaceful sanctuary free from distractions. Shafiq sees art as a therapy for artists, that can give peace of mind and have a positive impact on himself and the environment. Creating a serene and distraction-free setting, terrariums contribute to positive mental health and aid in boosting concentration and productivity levels. It is very helpful in the artist's daily life to get inspiration to produce the best ideas and works.
Terrarium - Unity
Shafiq Nordin
100 x 80cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
In Shafiq Nordin’s work, terrariums, also known as garden under glass, serve as a metaphor for the artist’s studio, a peaceful sanctuary free from distractions. Shafiq sees art as a therapy for artists, that can give peace of mind and have a positive impact on himself and the environment. Creating a serene and distraction-free setting, terrariums contribute to positive mental health and aid in boosting concentration and productivity levels. It is very helpful in the artist's daily life to get inspiration to produce the best ideas and works.
Terrarium - Unity
Shafiq Nordin
100 x 80cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2024
In Shafiq Nordin’s work, terrariums, also known as garden under glass, serve as a metaphor for the artist’s studio, a peaceful sanctuary free from distractions. Shafiq sees art as a therapy for artists, that can give peace of mind and have a positive impact on himself and the environment. Creating a serene and distraction-free setting, terrariums contribute to positive mental health and aid in boosting concentration and productivity levels. It is very helpful in the artist's daily life to get inspiration to produce the best ideas and works.
Komodozilla: Hero or Villain?
Aimman Hafizal
121 x 152 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2025
The artist reimagines the Malay proverb "Malang Pak Kaduk, ayamnya menang kampung tergadai," which means a fleeting victory can bring great loss. Through the tale of a carefree Komodo lizard who takes one innocent bite of a magical fruit and transforms into the colossal Komodozilla, he illustrates how joy can turn to devastation. Hero or Villain? This work reflects how small actions can lead to irreversible consequences.
Komodozilla: Hero or Villain?
Aimman Hafizal
121 x 152 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2025
The artist reimagines the Malay proverb "Malang Pak Kaduk, ayamnya menang kampung tergadai," which means a fleeting victory can bring great loss. Through the tale of a carefree Komodo lizard who takes one innocent bite of a magical fruit and transforms into the colossal Komodozilla, he illustrates how joy can turn to devastation. Hero or Villain? This work reflects how small actions can lead to irreversible consequences.
The Fungiverse
Aimman Hafizal
121 x 121 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2025
In The Fungiverse, the artist envisions a towering mushroom forest, home to a vibrant community of beings inspired by the animals that shape his world. Reflecting the Malay proverb "Cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan," the piece mirrors his journey—where stepping into the art scene brought friendships and belonging, flourishing like mushrooms after rain. Through this painting, he celebrates connection, growth and finding a home in the thriving creative community.
The Fungiverse
Aimman Hafizal
121 x 121 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
2025
In The Fungiverse, the artist envisions a towering mushroom forest, home to a vibrant community of beings inspired by the animals that shape his world. Reflecting the Malay proverb "Cendawan tumbuh selepas hujan," the piece mirrors his journey—where stepping into the art scene brought friendships and belonging, flourishing like mushrooms after rain. Through this painting, he celebrates connection, growth and finding a home in the thriving creative community.
Echoes of a Peahen
Haziq Syawal
64.5 x 150 cm
Acrylic on jute
2025
This artwork plays with time and movement. The peahen appears in three different moments, creating an echo-like effect, as if it exists beyond a single frame. The warm, simple background enhances its presence, inviting viewers to reflect on how things change while remaining familiar, like memories or fleeting moments of beauty.
Echoes of a Peahen
Haziq Syawal
64.5 x 150 cm
Acrylic on jute
2025
This artwork plays with time and movement. The peahen appears in three different moments, creating an echo-like effect, as if it exists beyond a single frame. The warm, simple background enhances its presence, inviting viewers to reflect on how things change while remaining familiar, like memories or fleeting moments of beauty.
Kencana Series 7
Haziq Syawal
50 x 40cm
Acrylic on Half Jute Canvas
2025
Kencana Series draws inspiration from the recurring presence of Bunga Kencana, a common yet often overlooked flower found by roadsides, near buildings and in quiet corners of towns and cities. Through this series, the artist reflects on the quiet beauty of everyday surroundings and the significance of noticing the familiar. By focusing on a subject that frequently appears in the background of daily life, the work becomes a gentle reminder of how meaning can emerge when we pause to observe. Kencana Series invites viewers to reconsider the ordinary and find value in what is often passed by.
Kencana Series 7
Haziq Syawal
50 x 40cm
Acrylic on Half Jute Canvas
2025
Kencana Series draws inspiration from the recurring presence of Bunga Kencana, a common yet often overlooked flower found by roadsides, near buildings and in quiet corners of towns and cities. Through this series, the artist reflects on the quiet beauty of everyday surroundings and the significance of noticing the familiar. By focusing on a subject that frequently appears in the background of daily life, the work becomes a gentle reminder of how meaning can emerge when we pause to observe. Kencana Series invites viewers to reconsider the ordinary and find value in what is often passed by.
The Turban's Tale
Khairudin Zainudin
122 x 122cm
Acrylic & Oil on Canvas
2024
This work reflects the artist’s early years in a pondok, a traditional Islamic learning center, where wearing a turban was part of daily life. As a child, he wore an adult-sized turban that often slipped over one eye, a quiet image of innocence wrapped in tradition.
The turban, like a school uniform, symbolized discipline, knowledge and spiritual intention. It was a way to follow the Prophet Muhammad’s example and to earn spiritual reward, not a political act.
As time passed, the artist saw how this symbol of faith became misread. What was once a marker of devotion is now often misunderstood and unfairly linked to extremism.
Through layered imagery and botanical forms, the piece recalls a time when identity was shaped by sincerity, not fear. It invites viewers to reconsider how cultural and religious symbols are perceived, and to see the person before the prejudice.
The Turban's Tale
Khairudin Zainudin
122 x 122cm
Acrylic & Oil on Canvas
2024
This work reflects the artist’s early years in a pondok, a traditional Islamic learning center, where wearing a turban was part of daily life. As a child, he wore an adult-sized turban that often slipped over one eye, a quiet image of innocence wrapped in tradition.
The turban, like a school uniform, symbolized discipline, knowledge and spiritual intention. It was a way to follow the Prophet Muhammad’s example and to earn spiritual reward, not a political act.
As time passed, the artist saw how this symbol of faith became misread. What was once a marker of devotion is now often misunderstood and unfairly linked to extremism.
Through layered imagery and botanical forms, the piece recalls a time when identity was shaped by sincerity, not fear. It invites viewers to reconsider how cultural and religious symbols are perceived, and to see the person before the prejudice.
Black on Black: Blossom Unbound
Khairudin Zainudin
183 x 217cm
Acrylic & Oil on Canvas
2025
This artwork invites viewers to reconsider the evolving identity of Muslim women in hijab, challenging preconceived notions and societal expectations. The textured black fabric entwined with delicate floral motifs symbolizes the tension between tradition and transformation, restriction and self-expression. The lock and key serve as metaphors, raising questions about whether they represent protection, imposed boundaries, or the power to unlock new narratives.
Through the contrast between realism and abstraction, this piece questions how individuality coexists within cultural frameworks. It asks whether the hijab is a mark of empowerment or constraint and who defines its meaning, the wearer or society. As perceptions shift, this artwork urges reflection on the complexities of faith, identity and the ever-changing role of the modern Muslim woman.
Black on Black: Blossom Unbound
Khairudin Zainudin
183 x 217cm
Acrylic & Oil on Canvas
2025
This artwork invites viewers to reconsider the evolving identity of Muslim women in hijab, challenging preconceived notions and societal expectations. The textured black fabric entwined with delicate floral motifs symbolizes the tension between tradition and transformation, restriction and self-expression. The lock and key serve as metaphors, raising questions about whether they represent protection, imposed boundaries, or the power to unlock new narratives.
Through the contrast between realism and abstraction, this piece questions how individuality coexists within cultural frameworks. It asks whether the hijab is a mark of empowerment or constraint and who defines its meaning, the wearer or society. As perceptions shift, this artwork urges reflection on the complexities of faith, identity and the ever-changing role of the modern Muslim woman.
Artist Statement
This artwork invites viewers to reconsider the evolving identity of Muslim women in hijab, challenging preconceived notions and societal expectations. The textured black fabric entwined with delicate floral motifs symbolizes the tension between tradition and transformation, restriction and self-expression. The lock and key serve as metaphors, raising questions about whether they represent protection, imposed boundaries, or the power to unlock new narratives.
Through the contrast between realism and abstraction, this piece questions how individuality coexists within cultural frameworks. It asks whether the hijab is a mark of empowerment or constraint and who defines its meaning, the wearer or society. As perceptions shift, this artwork urges reflection on the complexities of faith, identity and the ever-changing role of the modern Muslim woman.
Residual Sentiment
Gan Tee Sheng
183 x 122 cm
Oil on Canvas
2024
Artist Statement
Gan Tee Sheng’s intertwined nude bodies delve into complex emotions, often presenting surreal and unsettling scenes that tap into the subconscious. Through themes of Emotional Residue and Residual Sentiment, his art captures the rawness of human connection, intimacy, and identity, encouraging viewers to engage with deeper emotional layers beneath the surface. The interplay of body parts in his work invites open-ended interpretation, where the “weird odds” of his imagery provoke thought and unsettle the viewer.
Emotional Residue
Gan Tee Sheng
183 x 122 cm
Oil on Canvas
2024
Artist Statement
Gan Tee Sheng’s intertwined nude bodies delve into complex emotions, often presenting surreal and unsettling scenes that tap into the subconscious. Through themes of Emotional Residue and Residual Sentiment, his art captures the rawness of human connection, intimacy, and identity, encouraging viewers to engage with deeper emotional layers beneath the surface. The interplay of body parts in his work invites open-ended interpretation, where the “weird odds” of his imagery provoke thought and unsettle the viewer.