Flashes of colour pierce the darkness, transforming static surfaces into breathtaking canvases. Walls and floors once bare surrender to this profusion of patterns that shift across them seamlessly.
This is the work of 33-year-old Abdul Shakir Abu Samah, who uses light to create illusions that look like they have a life of their own.
Known as projection or light mapping, this technique casts images or videos onto surfaces, transforming everyday objects and spaces into dynamic, immersive experiences through the fusion of light and sound.
Related techniques, such as paint mapping, allow artists to weave movement onto static designs. When paired with motion sensors, the work is rendered fully interactive.
At Galeri Filamen at Muzium Telekom in Kuala Lumpur, dreams seemingly become reality as Shakir plays with colours in countless combinations.
“Most of my works are meant to showcase Malaysian culture, which is why they’re so lively, bright and colourful,” he told FMT.
“My visuals are drawn from motifs such as wood carvings – motifs symbolising Malays, Chinese and Indians, as well as people from Sabah and Sarawak; a fusion of many visual languages.”
The Selangor native said producing a single work can take up to two months. His tenacity has certainly paid off – his creations have been showcased in other countries including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Spain.
This October, Shakir will head to Italy to present the colours of Malaysia at the Florence Biennale.
Back home, one project that is especially close to his heart, “Atma Kirana”, was exhibited at the National Art Gallery in 2023. It used 100 recycled LED screens to relate the story of the Rukun Negara.
Pursuing his passion since age nine has meant making big financial sacrifices: Shakir has spent anywhere from RM5,000 to RM10,000 for small-scale exhibitions, and up to hundreds of thousands for large-scale showcases.
“For example, an immersive space like this (Galeri Filamen) requires four projectors. So, we either rent or buy the equipment,” he explained.
Recognising the challenges faced by newcomers in the field, Shakir leases out equipment through Filamen, a new art collective, to help others realise their own small-scale digital-art exhibitions.
For Shakir, who is also a research fellow at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, digital art offers a unique space for expression – and he is not worried that artificial intelligence will overshadow artists.
“AI is not the enemy – it’s just a tool. The difference lies in the ethics of the human who uses it,” he concluded.
Follow Abdul Shakir on Instagram.
