Malaysia artist journeys through surrealist dreamscapes with ballpoint pens

'I want to tell the audience that you don’t need expensive materials/tools to make art,' says Syahbandi, who has always preferred the simplicity and the accessibility of the ballpoint pen. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani

“The pen is mightier than the sword" is usually an expression associated with the written word, to describe writers, but contemporary artist Syahbandi Samat is taking the saying to a whole new level with his ballpoint pen artwork.

The 32-year-old artist uses boxes of ballpoint pens to make art and his highly-detailed surrealistic creations are a testament to the ability of an individual to go beyond traditional art mediums.