PENDULUM: Between Two Forces explores the tension shaping contemporary artistic practice in Malaysia, between the urge to question and the need to survive. The exhibition takes its cue from the lived realities of artists today, where creative intention, visibility, and economic pressure are deeply intertwined. Rather than offering clear answers, PENDULUM reflects a condition of constant negotiation that many artists quietly navigate.

In earlier periods, art was often understood as a space for reflection, critique, and imagination, with financial concerns remaining largely in the background. Today, artistic practice unfolds within systems that demand circulation, recognition, and accessibility. Market expectations influence how artworks are made, shown, and understood, even as artists continue to search for meaning beyond surface appeal. This exhibition does not position the market as an enemy but acknowledges it as a force that artists must continually respond to, resist, or adapt to. The pendulum here represents movement and tension rather than balance or resolution.

Featuring works by fourteen artists across painting, installation, sculpture, and mixed media, PENDULUM presents a range of responses to these conditions. Some works emphasise material presence and labour, others invite participation or challenge familiar forms. Together, they suggest that contemporary art is shaped not by certainty, but by ongoing questioning, risk, and becoming.

Curated by: Syakir Hashim

Featured artists: Adham Kamal, Ahmad Syahrul, Arif Fauzan Othman, Azim Rodi, Azlan Mam, Burhanuddin Bakri, Ezlyn, Faizal Wahab, Hazim Jaffry, Izhar Yusrin, Izzat Aziz, Nasrul Rokes, Rashid Nor & Tee Ying Jie