"Ezzam’s current series of works primarily made from dry calluses of his feet. Ezzam’s constant line of research has always been based on the ideas of absence and presence recorded within the unconventional materials that he uses. His works are mostly auto biographical, looking into the self, questioning and reclaiming his own identity while he navigates his day to day as southeast
Asian, Malay, Muslim, cis male, queer, minority body living and based in Singapore. By using these materials, he sculpted a series of miniature flower like sculptures to represent the ideas of ‘withering’ which is also a play of the word ‘Melayu’ when translated directly to English, that refers to his own identity as a ‘Melayu’.

In this new series or works entitled thought i’ve find a way to end but you never go away, Ezzam carved out the words جتن ن لمبوت / Jantan Lembut ( Soft Male ) and لکلاي لی م بیق / Lelaki Lembek ( Weak Man ) in Jawi from several pieces of skin he harvested. These words may sound harmless when translated in the English language but Ezzam remember growing up being called these words in a derogatory way. Although Ezzam grew up cis-gender male presenting, with the slightest form of effeminateness, is not accepted in his household. Ezzam remembered constantly being ‘othered’ by his peers just for his queerness and received frequent bullying.

Now in his early forties, he embraces his queerness and is trying to reclaim those words that was once daunting to him but now to accept his ‘softness / weakness’ and lack of typical stereotypical societal expectation of male masculinity. By using pieces of his own skin, Ezzam wanted to shine a light on these issues to the audiences that had or are still going through similar narratives and experiences as him. To take control of oneself and reclaim their rights."