| Malacca-born Danny Lim is primarily a writer and photojournalist. His features and photo-essays have been published in Malaysian and regional publications. Most recently he has been a freelance writer-photographer for Esquire magazine (Malaysia), MSN Malaysia and Selangor Times, and completed his Masters in Photojournalism in London in 2011 as a Chevening scholar. His first book, The Malaysian Book of the Undead, was published by Matahari Books. He has previously exhibited a series of piquant portraits of Malaysian politicians in 2004. He has produced writing and photography for media coverage of two General Elections and six by-elections in Malaysia, the 2010 General Election in UK, and was an international election observer for two elections in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.
Artist Note and Work Statement:
As a journalist covering politics, and particularly elections, in Malaysia, one gets so attuned to the rigmarole of political campaigning that the absurd and iconic bleed into the mundane. What is perceived to be exotic and theatrical, often prefaced by emotions of awe or outrage, and debated with extreme earnestness and righteousness, has been subsumed into humdrum acts in the play for power.
A Platform For Certain Issues
Sivarasa Rasiah, currently a Member of Parliament and a politician from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party) making a night-time speech on a make-shift platform in an open field the night before polling day during the April 2007 Ijok by-elections. It was the first elections contested by PKR after the release of it's adviser (and de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim from prison. PKR lost the Ijok by-elections, but their candidate, Khalid Ibrahim, would go on to win this seat in the 2008 General Election and become the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the state of Selangor.
A Clean Well-Lighted Place
Husam Musa, a state assemblyman and politician from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) visiting a pondok panas (campaign hut) to check up on the welfare of the youth volunteers manning the hut in the run-tup to the 2008 Malaysian General Election.
Assalamualaikum
Caption: A campaigner from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) about to call on a voter living in Kuala Terengganu, as part of the daily door-to-door voter canvassing campaign during the 2009 Kuala Terengganu by-elections
National Front
Caption: Supporters from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party), including one wearing a mask of Anwar Ibrahim, then adviser to PKR, standing side-by-side with police personnel trying to keep party supporters from getting rowdy on polling day of the 2008 Permatang Pauh by-election. This by-election was won by Anwar Ibrahim, paving the way for him to become the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
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