THE AESTHETIC OF ORANG ASLI (INDIGENOUS PEOPLE) SCULPTURE OF PENINSULA MALAYSIA

Baharudin Mohd Arus¹*, Azizi Yahaya², Mohd Pua’d Bebit^3
1Assoc. Prof. Dr. Universiti Malaysia Sabah, MALAYSIA, arusbaha@yahoo.com
²Assoc. Prof. Dr., Universiti Malaysia Sabah, MALAYSIA, profazizi_yahaya@yahoo.com
³Assoc. Prof. Dr., Universiti Malaysia Sabah, MALAYSIA, cfuart@yahoo.com
*Correspondence author

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to analyse the aesthetic elements of the primitive people of Malaysia. There were several groups of indigenous people of Peninsula Malaysia made of 0.1% of the whole population based on the 1999 survey. There were comprised of thirteen groups of these indigenous people live in several part of Malaysia but among them only two group of the Indigenous people produce artwork that is MahMeri and JahHut. The MahMeris and Jah Hut came from same community but they live separated to each other. The MahMeris live along the shore of the peninsula whilst the Jah Hut lives in the interior of the mainland jungle. Due to the different location the produce different sculpture that need the academic analysis in order to understand the importance to the community and the contemporary art work on the whole. The two indigenous communities produce artwork such as mask and sculpture out of wood. The aim of my paper is to investigate the importance of the wood sculpture to these communities as part of their economic, social and religious endeavour.

The research methodology based qualitative approached. The researcher used observation of the wood carvers, their workplaces, studios, and researcher also conduct several interview over the period of four years with the local respondent and also analyses the art works based on the Erwin Panofsky and Sigmund Freud Psychoanalysis theory. Several samples of the work have been used for the purpose of examined its variable with the culture and spiritual world-view of the indigenous people of MahMeri and Jah Hut.

Several break through has been discovered in the final conclusion of the research finding are the art work especially masks had the influences of foreign ethnic mask and sculpture especially region around Asean countries. Some of the carver has diversified their discipline which include wood print, modern sculptures, commercial product which was alien to their predecessor. In order to enhance their economy through the arts the communities set up the cooperative centre to distribute and market their art and craft especially mask and sculpture which is in high demand.

The research methodology based qualitative method. The researchers visit to the location, observation of the wood carver’s studio, conduct interview with the local respondent and also analyses the art work. Several samples of the work have been used for the purpose of examined its variable with the culture and spiritual worldview of the indigenous people of MahMeri and Jah Hut.

Keywords: indigenous, culture, spiritual