Spirit of Wood : Art of Woodcarving

Author:

By Farish A Noor, Eddin Khoo, David Lok

Spirit of Wood – the Art of Woodcarving in the Northeast Malay Peninsula.

The Spirit of Wood is perhaps the most comprehensive book on Malay woodcarvings from the Northeastern Peninsular states of Pattani, Kelantan and Terengganu that has ever been researched. Drawn from the collections of two of Malaysia's foremost master woodcarvers, the late Nik Rashidin Nik Hussein and his protégé, Norhaiza Noordin, it explores the origins, history and art of traditional Malay woodcarving by taking motif as the focal point. By examining how these motifs evolved over time, the book illustrated the dynamic interplay of native Austronesian motifs with Hindu-Buddhist, Islamic and Chinese influences.

The book also explored the traditions, techniques and philosophy of traditional woodcarving and placed them within the wider context of Malay civilisation. The artefacts featured in the book were carefully chosen to illustrate the materials used, the types of objects made, and the concepts, beliefs and cultural aesthetics that shaped Malay woodcraft.

Artefacts ranged from the everyday - cake moulds and tackle boxes - to architectural elements from mosques and palaces, to luxury and ceremonial items such as weapons, sireh sets and birdcages. In addition to antique artefacts, the book also showcased the works of the regions top craftsmen working today.

The Northeastern states of the Malay Peninsula represent a unique sub-grouping of the Malay World with its own cultural, artistic and historical heritage. Centred on the city of Pattani and rooted in the ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdom of Langkasuka, the Northeastern Peninsula was periodically an important crossroads for trade passing across the Isthmus of Kra between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. During these periods of prominence, in particular between the 2nd and 8th centuries as well as the 12th through the 16th centuries, traders, scholars and religious pilgrims from across the region and around the world flocked to Lankasuka and to its successor, the Sultanate of Pattani. As a result the area reflects a characteristic blend of indigenous and foreign influences that is at once unmistakably Southeast Asian and uniquely Langkasukan.

It is indeed a worthy book to be read, refer, and understand on wood, wood-carvings, patterns and etc.  culture of the Northern Malay Peninsula!

 

Why wait? ^_^ Branding your references now!