Here's a look at the influence of the Mahathir years

A collage of found stickers, pamphlets and posters called NEP (New Economic Policy) by Roslisham Ismail (Ise). The 2008-2016 work is part of Ilham Gallery’s Era Mahathir exhibition. Photos: The Star/Azlina Abdullah

Refreshing is perhaps not the reaction Ilham Gallery intended to evoke with the exhibition Era Mahathir. The triteness of the sentiment aside, however, it feels pertinent in a digital age where comment is cheap.

The “22 years, 3 months, 2 weeks and one day” rule of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (from 1981 to 2003) saw the flourishing of art as a form of social commentary like no other time in this country. This exhibition is a snapshot of those years.