Formalistic and contextual analysis in Malaysia new media art: 1990 -2013 / Suhana Nordin

'New' is always new within its timing frame. The remarkable 'new' is fast developing and has obviously left traces on the uses of media. Nowadays, the media is always changing in order to achieve perfection thus giving implications to the living cultures. Our lives today have become more complex that eventually have caused confusion in the rise of new media. Hence, in Malaysia, this has also caused new media art in art scenario exist with less acceptance and understanding especially in the art scene. Malaysia Contemporary art rose in the late of 70's and new media art began in the late of 80's. During these time artists started to use data from computer technology to create a form of artwork. As time moves on, these form of artwork started to become complicated and confusing while the elements appeared complex and diverse especially since the 90's, and the beginning of multimedia era. Hence, established understanding of the concept, the formalist and its contexts are the objectives of making new media becomes refined and clear. Thus, historical observations and critics on new media artworks help to raise new appreciation, new understanding and new perspective in this new visual art form. This study has traced a few types of new media in Malaysia which concentrates in five dominant types that are consistently explored and experimented by Malaysian artists for instance Video Animation Installation, Website, Interactive Sound Installation, Digital Video Installation and Multimedia Performance Installation. Ultimately, Malaysia new media has raised double identities while technology (connected to common or conventional art) and non-technology (connected to data information) collaborated as one. Moreover, the use of medium among artists is progressing well as a form from static to beyond while soul and local wisdom are never left behind. Hitherto, visual language was extended from common visual art to diversity visual art whilst the heart of new media art is called Database. However, research in new media art in different disciplines such as technology and sciences need to be further explored due to it offering high promise of dynamic feature in art cultures in the future. Finally, Malaysian art is heading to hybrid art form towards 21st century in a diverse visual art form.