PERAK-born artist Muhammad Syazwan Abd Rahim has been awarded the grand prize for his work, The Fault Lines, at Spotlight 2025 in George Town recently.
An accomplished artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, Syazwan received RM5,000, a mentorship programme, and a solo exhibition as part of Spotlight’s ongoing artist development initiative.
Organised by Penang Art District, Spotlight 2025 is currently showcasing the works of the Top 20 emerging Malaysian artists at MassHaus Gallery, 147A Victoria Street, George Town, from Dec 12 to 28. Now in its eighth edition, the exhibition is open every Thursday to Sunday from 12pm to 5pm.
Syazwan’s practice centres on pressing social concerns, particularly the urgent need to raise public awareness of environmental degradation driven by human negligence, alongside the economic hardships experienced by many communities.
With growing recognition for his work, Syazwan has been selected to participate in several notable exhibitions, including TAKSU Kuala Lumpur’s annual Locals Only! 2024 showcase and the 2022 Hotel Art Fair organised by the CIMB Foundation.
Among the prestigious awards he garnered in 2022 were the Malaysian Emerging Artist Award, the Jury’s Pick Award at Art Against AIDS, and the grand prize at the Mr DIY Art Competition.
At the official opening held at the gallery on Dec 13, five artists received the Jury’s Choice Awards, each accompanied by a RM1,000 cash prize, in recognition of their strong artistic vision and execution:
- Fisshy Yee Yun Ping – Secret World Ontology
- Lim Yong Wei – Sunbracer
- Fakhrur Maricar – Penang, Untitled #1
- Cassandra Menon – The Red Gaza
- Izhar Yusrin – In the absence of Choice I Fall
According to Penang Art District general manager Kenny Ng, Spotlight has remained committed to discovering, nurturing and elevating new artistic talent in Malaysia.
He also expressed appreciation to UOB Malaysia, a longstanding supporter of the arts and creative development in the region, for its continued backing in helping Spotlight grow from strength to strength.
Event Details
Spotlight 2025 Finalist Showcase
Venue: MassHaus Gallery, 147A Victoria Street, George Town, Penang
Exhibition Dates: 12 – 28 December 2025
Opening Hours: 12pm – 5pm (Thursday–Sunday)
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of Penang Art District