AN Art and Design (Fine Art) lecturer from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) won the grand prize award in the Mr DIY art competition "Reality of Abstraction" under the public category recently.
The Pahang-born artist, Mohd Farizal Puadi, 47, received a prize of RM15,000.
"I never expected to win this competition because my art is simple, focusing on technical aspects rather than vibrant colours," he said.
Farizal explained that his artwork, "Malaysia Madani", is inspired by the 15th General Election (GE15), capturing the positive aspects amidst the online disputes and behaviour observed on social media.
"I used our national flag to symbolise our country, with the chesterfield-like sofa texture representing our unique identities," he said.
"The diamonds embedded in the flag carry profound meanings, open to various interpretations by viewers," he added.
Another grand prize winner, Iklil Ali Ahmad Shukri, 19, won RM4,000 in the educational category. He said that his art explores "love within social diversity and love in various life contexts".
"As a student, and influenced by my artistic parents, I aspired to study the fine arts. My artwork depicts the lessons I learned from my parents, teachers, friends, and life," he said.
He emphasised that art communicates the purity of love and has the potential to counteract hate, transforming the world into a realm of harmony and peace.
Mr DIY invites the public to view the award-winning artworks at Mr DIY Plus IPC Shopping Centre from June 22 to 30 and Segaris Art Centre Publika from July 1 to July 7.
Its group chief executive officer, Adrian Ong, said they believe in the power of creativity and innovation.
The art competition aimed to recognise and reward the same spirit of creativity and dedication that drives their success.
"This year's theme, 'Reality of Abstraction', invites artists to explore and depict the relationship between the abstract and the real - creating a sense of the abstract while maintaining a connection to the real world.
"This theme aims to challenge perceptions, encourage people to see beyond the surface, and to consider deeper, more complex interpretations," he said.
He added that some of the winning pieces beautifully integrated Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, and Kadazan cultural elements, demonstrating that within the artistic and creative world, cultural differences transcend boundaries.
"It is through efforts like this that we can inspire Malaysians to look beyond the obvious and appreciate the deeper nuances in our relationship with society and each other," he added.
For the first time, the competition featured two separate categories - public and educational institutions - to encourage more Malaysians to showcase their unique talents and abilities.
