Tradition and change, is it progress (development) or regression? Often, modernity is equated with things and values (Western), and this is more pronounced with globalisation, although it also kicks in a kind of reverse ethnic ghetto. So much of the world has been Coca-Cola-nised by contemporary American culture and entertainment, so much so that our own heroes like Hang Tuah have become a relic. Here, the bee-hive cubicles of high-rises are juxtaposed with the traditional quilt mat with its square cubes with diagonal binding. Once upon a time, the only abodes of the Malays were the raised Malay houses made of wood, with high ceiling and airy verandahs and where lit paraffin lamps made things visible in the darkness. Akhmal Asyraf graduated with a BFA from Universiti ITM, majoring in Painting in 2009-2010. The year 2013 proved propitious for him, for he held his first solo, Rebirth, at RA Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur; represented in Art Expo Malaysia; and his work was selected for the Arts Kuala Lumpur on the fringe of the Miami Art Basel. In 2014, he was selected for the Young Guns exhibition at Chan Hampe Galleries in Singapore.