18/01/2026

ON SUNDAY January 18, 2026 theSunday Special VII

Trends come and go, but your movement is yours.”

In Bodyscape 76-3 , Lee let the curves of his arms form overlapping lines that resemble a heart shape, but he did not set out to draw that. “I simply moved within my body’s natural limits and the shape appeared on its own,” he said. This idea resonates in Malaysian cul ture, where creativity is often linked to precision, skill or talent. Lee’s approach reminds us that expression can begin with the body – with motion, not mastery. Art as an interaction, not a performance Lee also believes art should not be a one way experience, where the artist creates and the viewer simply watches. “I’ve always believed that performance art cannot exist without the audience. Their reactions, their questions – all of that becomes part of the artwork,” he added. This philosophy has led to interactive projects, including one at the Gwangju Biennale in 2023, where Lee invited visitors, young and old, to recreate his Bodyscape works using crayons and their own arm movements. In Malaysia, this echoes the spirit of community arts festivals, where public murals, batik workshops and school exhibitions invite everyone to participate. The joy, Lee said, came from seeing people discover their own creative voice. “Even a child who never held a brush before could feel proud of what they made.

Another version of Love Embrace , a splash of bright colours, visualising two people connecting.

Anyone can enjoy or experience art. That is the beauty of it.”

That sense of connection, that’s what art is for,” he said. With so much of our daily life spent in front of screens, many Malaysians are ¿QGLQJ QHZ ZD\V WR HQMR\ YLVXDO FXOWXUH From virtual museum tours to locally PDGH GLJLWDO FRPLFV WKH GH¿QLWLRQ RI ³DUW space” is changing.

Strokes of life: The many different lines represent different emotions and movements.

Lee initially doubted whether his performance-based work could be mean ingfully experienced on a digital screen, but after seeing his paintings displayed digitally at an international art fair, he changed his mind. “The emotion and energy came through, sometimes even more clearly. It surprised me,” he said. For Malaysians with limited access to galleries or exhibitions, especially those outside major cities, digital platforms can provide exposure to global art and ideas. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, more than 90% of Malaysian households have internet ac cess and visual content is among the most consumed media formats. Being able to view art while relaxing at KRPH /HH VDLG R̆ HUV D GL̆ HUHQW NLQG RI intimacy. “There’s something meaningful about sitting quietly with a cup of tea, just ob serving a work of art. That’s appreciation too,” he said. A slower, more mindful way to live In a society where we’re often encouraged WR EH SURGXFWLYH DQG Ḣ FLHQW /HH¶V ZRUN R̆ HUV DQ DOWHUQDWLYH 6ORZQHVV VHQVDWLRQ and stillness. “Art helps us focus on the process, not just the outcome. It reminds us to notice ZKDW ZH RIWHQ RYHUORRN ± WR ¿QG PHDQLQJ in the moment,” he said. This message may resonate with many Malaysians juggling work, family and the

digital noise of everyday life. The act of watching a line take shape, observing movement or even participating in a simple drawing exercise can become a form of mindfulness. In recent years, wellness spaces in Malaysia have increasingly embraced art therapy and mindful drawing classes as part of self-care routines. Lee’s work aligns with this growing recognition of the body as not just a physical vessel but a source of insight, intuition and healing. Lee’s journey is also a quiet encourage ment to those just starting in the creative ¿HOG “I’ve followed my own path without compromise. Trends come and go, but your voice, your movement, is yours,” he said. To young Malaysian artists, musicians or dancers unsure of their direction, his DGYLFH LV VLPSOH 7UXVW \RXU ERG\ WUXVW your process and respond sincerely to your present moment. “Art shouldn’t belong only to profes sionals. Anyone can enjoy, imitate or experience it. That’s the beauty of it,” he added. Whether on a gallery wall, in a kam pung classroom or through a screen at home, Lee’s work reminds us that creativity is not a distant concept; it begins with us, in our daily gestures, our breath, our reach. Sometimes, all it takes to start is a crayon, an open space and the willingness to move.

Lee working on a painting inspired by body movement.