For Zac Lee, to live in Malaysia is to live in a kind of surrealism; a wonderful soap bubble which distorts perceptions of truth and reality. Those on the outside see the gleaming surface, beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine, shining faces and constant sunshine. Yet were one to peer closely through the soapy film , perceived realities are somewhat different. In his new exhibition, When Come Spring (?), Lee’s paintbrush reveals pointy tales about modern Malaysia and her state of affairs, and this series has deftly popped the bubble to provide an elegant social commentary, fusing photographic accuracy with the confident and refined painting style for which he is so well regarded. This time, we see tiger, fighting fish, magpies and more.

The deliberately aged ‘Polaroid’ style borders have meaning as well. Lee explains that an important aspect of When Come Spring (?) is the immediacy of the art; as if a man wielding a Polaroid camera (rather than painting on a canvas), he ‘points and snaps’ to create these striking images of Malaysiana. The discolored borders elegantly tell of the passing of time and hint that the messages extend before and beyond today.

Previous collections have referenced Martin Luther King’s maxim ‘all we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see’. In When Come Spring Lee develops this theme, presenting a powerful exhibition in his inimitable surrealist style and leaving the viewer with the compelling message that where Malaysia is concerned, seeing should not always be believing. When Come Spring (?) – a question and a statement – both elegantly considered through Lee’s vision. With only 10 works, all oil on jute – the exhibition promises an engaging narrative.

Image: © Zac Lee, Shalini Ganendra Fine Art