WHEN the design team behind Dream Home Makeover of China chose Tawau in Sabah as the location for their first international project, they showcased the immense power of art as a constructive force. At the same time, another artist, Fahmi Reza from Peninsular Malaysia, sparked controversy in Kota Kinabalu with his provocative and divisive artwork. This contrast demonstrates the dual nature of art—it can either build and inspire or provoke and alienate.