This 1998 iteration of the 3 Young Contemporaries format, officiated by Redza Piyadasa, featured Badruddin Abdul Wahab, Chang Yoong Chia, and Ivan Lam during the formative stages of their careers. As recent graduates from institutions in Malaysia and the United States, the trio utilized the exhibition to navigate the transition into the professional art circuit, exploring the boundaries of printmaking, drawing, and painting. The works reflected a burgeoning shift toward individualistic, medium-specific inquiries among a new generation of practitioners.

Badruddin Abdul Wahab showcased charcoal drawings of the human figure, such as Model Telanjang, initiating a long-term investigation into anatomical form and presence. Chang Yoong Chia presented brooding works from his Yellow Skinned Songs series, employing acrylic and Chinese ink on paper to create dense, introspective narratives. Ivan Lam, returning from his studies at the Maine College of Art, contributed bold compositions like Cross eyed, which combined silkscreen ink and acrylic on canvas.