Sarkah 2005 Articles: By Elizabeth Ann-Colville & Malaysiakini.com Magazine

Sarkah: Paintings on Perspex, for further info on the paintings please write to ariscurator@yahoo.co.uk

Malay Spirits in London
ARIS A YAACOB EXHIBITION
Written by Elizabeth Ann-Colville

On the evening of the 3rd November the large first room of the FarmiloFiumano Gallery near London’s Hyde Park was packed full as Jimmy Choo OBE introduced Aris A Yaacob who since his first exhibition at the Putra World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur in 1996 has gained an international reputation. He is a prolific and original artist interpreting his inner self as created by his ancestral spirits in exquisite monochrome drawings then developed into vivid acrylic paintings. Having read the Koran from a young age he has used his familiarity with Arabic (Jawi) calligraphy and taking the word malam meaning night the time of spirits, has worked this form into a series of flowing patterns in powerful colours. On exhibition was work developed from 1999 but prepared in the last 12 months consisting of 70 drawings, 12 paintings and 9 perspex overlayed paintings combined with lettering patterns.

It is said that more Britons now believe that spirits exist than believe that there is a God. A belief in the supernatural and the questioning of life after death has haunted humanity from the most primitive to ultra sophisticated and is the basis of most religions.

Communication with the spirit world is celebrated around the globe: Yu Lan (Cantonese for Festival of Hungry Ghosts) and in Japan Obon when ancestors visit their living families. America and Ireland revert to pre All Hollow’s Eve – the Eve of all Saints’ Day. In Celtic times New Year began in November 1st and on Samahin, the night before, ghosts of the dead were thought to return to earth. In Spain, Mexico and much of Latin America into the 21st century on November 2nd El Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is till celebrated with picnics at graves and shrines at home with replicas of object which pleases the departed in their lives on earth.

In Malay SAKA (Anglicised phonetically to Sarkah) is the ancestral spirits with which one is born influencing one towards anger such as the aggressive wild animals or tranquillity found in flowers and peaceful images. Sarkah was the title of this exhibition. Either side of the door leading to the second of the three rooms were too large red panels entitled ‘The Cave’ and in the space between Aris performed his interpretation of Wayang Kulit which in its original form is similar to Southeast Asian shadow puppets of heroes, demons, animals and clowns with performances which can last for many hours with the puppeteer moving the figures, singing and conducting the orchestra. Fifty years ago there were well over a hundred masters of this art but since the popularity of television as entertainment there are now thought to be less than half a dozen. The music on his occasion was provided by On-Kong and the movements inspired by a poem especially written by Rozmanshah Abdullah.

Enveloped in many layers of clear plastic the apparition brought to mind that man makes puppets portraying the shadow of man and full circle Aris A Yaacob is man portraying the puppet-shadows of spirits of mankind past and present. When he first appeared I was anxiously aware of the one word which has come into common use in English from Malay – Amok; not the marshal tactic used in warfare but the solitary pengamok (amok runner) referred to by Centi from the early 15th Century. Men possessed possibly by religion, drugs or deep grief who would attack everyone in sight even to death ……but to my great relief Aris used calm and graceful movements and like the artwork on the walls one did not need to understand the spiritual meaning in order to enjoy and appreciate it.

Of every work sold that evening 5% was given to the children of Niger. I noted that the two panels of ‘The Cave’ between which Aris performed were separately priced and wondered how much the triptych would cost but sadly I doubt it would be available!

A wider exhibition of his work ‘Rebranding Malaysian Arts’ and a repeat performance of ‘Reinventing Puppetry’ at the Nolias Gallery near the Tate Modern in SW London is to be attended by the Tourism Minister of Malaysia on the 15 November during the four day World Travel Market at which over five and half thousands of the world’s leading travel and tourism companies from over 190 countries will be competing for their share of the international tourist trade. Aris A Yaacob exhibition mean that visitors can buy his work to have at home and be inspired to visit the country of its origin.


There is more information on Aris A Yaacob and his unique work and the poems of Sarkah if you contact Rozmanshah Abdullah via ariscurator@yahoo.co.uk
or rozmanshahabdullah@yahoo.co.uk
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Elizabeth Ann-Colville London born of English mother and French father. Worked on Britain daily and national papers and magazines then went freelance as writer and photographer. Fairly well travelled but not yet to Malaysia! Now post official retirement age but last year abseiled 160 feet (14 stories) down local hospital building to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Elizabeth Ann-Colville (Journalist/photographer/photo library/PR Consultant)



MALAYSIAKINI.COM MAGAZINE
A Malaysian artist in London
Farah Fahmy
Nov 15, 05 , 2:15pm


Last week, a corner of London's fashionable W2 area became brighter thanks to an exhibition by a Malaysian artist. Sarkah, Aris Yaacob's debut solo exhibition was held at the FarmiloFiumano Gallery and its opening night was attended by many guests, including acclaimed shoe-maker Jimmy Choo and the Malaysian High Commissioner to London. Sarkah celebrates the Malay psyche and the artwork is visually arresting. Aris uses bold strokes and vibrant colours in his work. "Sarkah is based on the word saka," he explained. "The word pusaka is more about materials whereas saka is spiritual, it's deeper and has got more depth to it. We should consider wayang kulit as saka for example. I'm exploring this idea because I think it's so interesting". Alongside his close friend and collaborator Rozmanshah Abdullah, Aris had been working on the idea and concept behind Sarkah for a long time.

The Malay psycheHe has always been interested in Malay psyche, and his explorations in the subject are done in the Malaysian context. This is after all, what he can relate to the most: "You can be Malay no matter where you are, no matter what citizen you are but I was born in Malaysia, raised in Malaysia; your early childhood in Malaysia, that is something you cannot take away from your own destiny, your own fate because the early childhood, that's what makes you who you are." Being abroad has made Aris become even more aware of his identity as a Malaysian Malay. At a conference on South-East Asian Studies held at the University of Exeter recently, Aris was disappointed to note that whilst there were hardly any talks on Malay psyche, art or literature, talks on Indonesian art were held. Indonesian art and culture was dominant, leaving Aris feeling as though Malay arts and culture from Malaysia was very much the junior partner. He accepts that there is a similarity between the (Malaysian) Malay and Indonesian arts, but feels that "... there's a major distinctive line that you can draw to divide the two". "When you talk about wayang kulit (shadow puppets) they always talk about Java, when you talk about batik they talk about Indonesia, gamelan Indonesia. Where is Malaysia?" he ponders. Aris, who hails from Seremban, has been living in London for almost ten years.

As a young child, he knew he was creative: "When I was small, I always loved to draw and I entered a lot of art competitions". He also had a great interest in the arts, but the education system made it difficult for him to pursue his interest ("You don't have the chance to learn literature"), although he did manage to study with French-trained Malaysian artist Mansor Ibrahim, whose influence he acknowledges, during his two-year International Baccalaureate course. He eventually gained a degree in architecture, but on its completion, Aris realised that his interest did not lie in the architectural world, and he pursued a Master's degree in Theatre Design. Being close to the creative and arts world again brought to the fore his first love of drawing and "... that's how it all began". Already a rising star in the Malaysian arts scene, nevertheless Aris admits that life as an artist is not easy, and he is thankful for the support and patronage that he has enjoyed so far. "To put on an exhibition in London, especially as a young, struggling artist - no matter where you're from, even if you're British - passion, will, and determination can only bring you so far. There's no easy way. There are too many artists in London".

Network, network, networkHe continues: "You have to be persistent and I think it's all about communication. You need funding and support from established organisations, institutions or even individuals. In a way it's all about contacts, marketing, PR, that's what you have to do to progress." Aris's supporters include his business partner Keith Mills, the National Art Gallery in Malaysia, the Malaysian High Commission in London, and Studio Voltaire London. How did he manage to gain such strong support? Aris laughs. "I can't tell you that!" He admits later that it was all down to "networking and meeting the right people at the right time". Jimmy Choo, for example, has a shop almost directly opposite the FarmiloFiumano Gallery. Aris is currently completing a Ph.D in re-reading and re-interpreting wayang kulit and plans to become a full-time artist when he graduates. He wants to do more exhibitions, not just in London but also in Malaysia. His intentions are plain - to challenge the perception of Malay art in London so as to give greater exposure to works from Malaysia, and to challenge the Malaysian perception of art in Malaysia. His reinterpretation of a wayang kulit show in Malaysia last year was not universally liked. "People hated my work; they said it was rubbish and I even had a comment saying my work was childish," he admits. Not that this would stop him - Aris, a self-declared radical Malay artist, intends to "contemporise the traditional understanding of certain genres in Malaysian art". Having held a lecturing stint at the LimKokWing Institute in KL, Aris would not mind teaching again. "I love teaching. Although it's not something I want to do fulltime it's very self-satisfying to share your knowledge with others and then learn from others".

Once established, Aris would also like to support young Malaysian artists and become a patron of Malaysian art. He cheekily and cheerily adds, "Tell the Ministry of Culture to give me some funding so that I can open a gallery to support Malaysian art in London". His ultimate ambition though, is to be the next big Malaysian "thing" worldwide. "I'd love to become the Malaysian Picasso," he declares, "why not? After all, if Jimmy Choo can do it, why can't I?" Note: Aris's next exhibition is on the 15th of November, at the Nolias Gallery in London, and Aris can be contacted via his email address: ariscurator@yahoo.co.uk.

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FARAH FAHMY is a regular contributor to malaysiakini. She lives in London.