Page 68 - The Guide To Malaysia 9th Edition

64 THE ARTS
The Art of Diversity
The aesthetic roots of Malaysia’s art can be found both in its past and in
its multicultural makeup. Maritime routes brought the world’s traders to
its shores, along with
their respective cultures. Arab, Chinese Indian, and European influences have seeped into Malaysia’s
art forms since antiquity.
As the country gained independence in the mid- twentieth century, Islamic influences became more prominent, through art forms like calligraphy and non- figurative representation. Over in East Malaysia, the traditional motifs of Borneo’s
indigenous peoples create an aesthetic blend that shares similarities with Polynesian cultures.
As skyscrapers take the place of rural landscapes, our visual topography has followed suit, with a younger generation of artists taking pride in exploring new media. Today, Malaysia’s
art scene is a medley of old and new, and many of the country’s contemporary artists have embedded the aesthetics and traditions
of their elders into modern works that remain distinctively Malaysian.
Traditional Arts
The country’s classic art forms include textiles, pottery, metalwork,
and woodcarving, and
Malaysia’s Borneo and East Coast states remain the
best places to view and purchase fine traditional works. Along the southern coast of Selangor lies Carey Island, where the indigenous Mah Meri trade their world-famous UNESCO- recognised sculptures, along with beautiful woven objects, in their Cultural Village. In the states of Terengganu and Kelantan, wood carving still flourishes, with the fine work of artisans finding its way into architectural features such as supports and doors,
or even onto decorative touches on fishing boats.
Another highlight of the IAMM Malay World gallery, a pokok pitis (coin tree) minted from locally mined tin in Kelantan in 1903 AD/ 1321 AH. Each coin has inscriptions in naskh script on both sides.
This exquisite Kitab al-Mawlid al-Nabawi (book of prayers recited on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday) is a highlight of the IAMM Malay World gallery. Written in Arabic with interlinear Malay translations, it is a foundation stone of the Islamic arts movement in Southeast Asia.