Mixed-media installation; cut out books, calligraphy ink on paper
2021
The Asli and Bunian
of Tangkak
The Asli and Bunian of Tangkak is an immersive installation simulating a conversation about the worlds in our Southeast Asian region. Centring on stories from the people of Tangkak, the installation encapsulates an intriguing world that often escapes our sight.
The Asli and Bunian of Tangkak draw inspiration from the quiet alliance between the Orang Asli (Indigenous peoples of Malaysia) and Orang Bunian (whistling or hidden people). The Asli believes the Bunian to be guardians of the forest, keeping the balance of the habitats they share. While the Bunian is a myth community existing in an abstracted dimension mirroring ours, the Asli, faces ongoing displacement from their lands.
Unpacking the legends related to the Gunung of Ledang, and the different variations of stories told by its people, The Asli and Bunian of Tangkak emphasises myth-making as a creative fortification tool by Indigenous people to protect their lands.
The Asli and Bunian of Tangkak draw inspiration from the quiet alliance between the Orang Asli (Indigenous peoples of Malaysia) and Orang Bunian (whistling or hidden people). The Asli believes the Bunian to be guardians of the forest, keeping the balance of the habitats they share. While the Bunian is a myth community existing in an abstracted dimension mirroring ours, the Asli, faces ongoing displacement from their lands.
Unpacking the legends related to the Gunung of Ledang, and the different variations of stories told by its people, The Asli and Bunian of Tangkak emphasises myth-making as a creative fortification tool by Indigenous people to protect their lands.
Alysha Rahmat Shah, The Asli and Bunian of Tangkak, 2021, mixed-media installation.