A wall installation work for Kenduri Seni Art Festival at Pattani, Thailand 2024.

"Defragmentation", acrylic, maker pens on pandanus, 2024
 

In August last year, my artwork was selected to be exhibited at the Kenduri Seni Art Festival at Pattani, Thailand. The piece was made from the pandanus weavings and these weaving was woven by the master in my village. Pandanus weaving is very synonymous with the life of indigenous people in Malaysia. The plant itself grows wildly in the peatland forest, not far from the village. 

The installation features around 19 small weavings, a number that holds great significance as it corresponds to the names of indigenous languages found in the Malaysian peninsula. This wall installation examines maps related to the indigenous peoples' customary land rights, which remain inadequately acknowledged by the Malaysian government.

Selected to be as one of Artivist-in-Residence and Speak at COP28, Dubai!

Last year was the busiest year in my art and activism career. I was pleasantly surprised to receive an invitation to collaborate with talented artists from around the world for the global climate change conference, COP28, in Dubai. The Artivist Network has been one of the leading organizations working to mobilize actions for this important event.

Simultaneously, I received an invitation to present my paper on art and culture's role in climate mitigation.

Sharing sessions at Malaysian's pavilion, Dubai

Speaking about the situations in global south in the indigenous actions during the COP28, Dubai

As an artivist (artist and activist) for COP28, I was tasked with creating various works, including posters, banners, placards, props, and other related materials for the events throughout the two weeks of COP28 in Dubai. This was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with fellow artists from different parts of the world.

Completed a big mural on ship containers!

Please click on the image above to watch the video on how I did this massive mural project at Mah Meri Craft Centre in Pulau Carey, Selangor, Malaysia. 

 

Malaysiaku group exhibition at Balai Seni Maybank Tower, Kuala Lumpur

 I felt so blessed to be selected for this group exhibition at one of the oldest art galleries in Malaysia. Balai Seni Maybank was the gallery that every artist wanted to exhibit in Malaysia. 

Cultural Wisdom for Climate Action Conference, Bangkok, Thailand

 Earlier this year last January the Siam Society invited me to present my paper on Indigenous Art and Wisdom on Climate mitigation at the Cultural Wisdom for Climate Action Conference, in Bangkok, Thailand.

Such an honour to have this opportunity to speak about my art and the role of indigenous in climate mitigation. I know how small the population of indigenous in the world but our cultural wisdom already saved many forests and biodiversities within from being destroyed in the name of development. 

Working on a Commission Painting!

 Here is my new commission painting. I don't often do commissions unless some special project. Here you can watch step by step how I painted a new painting. 

Click on the video to play. Please don't forget to subscribe to my youtube channel. Enjoy!

I got invited to be speaker at COP27, 2022!

Last year I got invited to present my paper on the Role of Indigenous People in Peagtland Protection and Mitigation at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.  I was part of Malaysian delegations that went to the conference on Climate Change 2022. 

Felt so blessed that Global Environment Centre NGO sponsored me to be in Egypt for this special conference. It has to open my door to the world, especially in my activism.

 

I presented a token of appreciation to the Prince of Pahang at the presentation event. I was honored to have the event officiated by the Prince of Pahang during my presentation on that day. 

 I have met many inspiring indigenous leaders and activists throughout the COP27 event. There are some very good conferences at the indigenous pavilion as well.

Of course, my trip won't be complete without visiting a world-famous ancient monument Pyramid of Giza, in Cairo city. I managed to have an off day on Sunday to travel to Cairo by night bus.  First time on a camel ride!

 

Stateless Mind - Body of Knowledge: Performance Art and Video Streaming, a satellite event for Venice Biennale 2022, Venice, Italy

 

 

Title: Letter to the Forest

The aim of this performance art is to allow the audience to participate by coming up with messages about the spirit of nature, which build bridges to connect their lives and the natural environment.

The idea of sending messages is quite synonymous with our contemporary lifestyle, but it has always been a part of the traditional activities of indigenous people. 

This performance art is inspired by the Asian tradition of putting a message on the banyan tree. In my indigenous community e=where, strong shamanistic traditions still exist, this goes even further. Offerings of food and verbal requests are made to the spirits of the trees and the jungle to ask permission to utilise the environment. 

Happy Indigenous People 's Day 2022!

 

This year we indigenous people around the world celebrate the role of indigenous women in the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge. 

Time-Lapse video at my solo exhibition!

 Here is the time-lapse of the final day of my solo exhibition at Richard Koh Fine Art Gallery. Hope you enjoy it. Please do subscribe to my YouTube channel for similar content and updates on my activities. 

Land of A Thousand Guilts, my fourth exhibition to date.

This is my my fourth solo exhibition. First of all I would like to say thank you to anyone who went to my exhibition at Richard Koh Fine Art Gallery. But mostly to my parents and siblings who supported me from beginning of my career as an artist. 

It was tough to be an artist when the pandemic hit, as we need a physical art exhibition to sell our artwork. But i was a bit lucky than other artist in Malaysia, i managed to get this exhibition running just when the restrictions were lifted. So many friends and collectors managed to see my work exhibited in the gallery.

"Land of a Thousand Guilts", my solo exhibition for 2021 at Richard Koh Fine Art, Malaysia.

 

Richard Koh Fine Art

(RKFA-KL) is pleased to announce Malaysian artist Shaq Koyok’s (b. 1985) solo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. Land of a Thousand Guilts is scheduled to run from 5th until 20th March 2021 at Richard Koh Fine Art, No. 34-1, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The artist will present 14 recent works in his first solo exhibition with Richard Koh Fine Art.

In Land of a Thousand Guilts, Koyok responses to a dire situation faced by Malaysia’s indigenous people; the Orang Asal – a community which he belongs to. In this exhibition, the artist draws upon personal experiences of trauma in his youth, in which his own village faced when an unscrupulous land developer encroached the jungle surrounding his home village.

VLOG l Mural art for rural Indigenous School in Perak, Malaysia.

Last year in 2019, i went to very rural Semai community in Perak to do mural art project together with Radio TV Malaysia. It took us 7 hours drive from capital city of Kuala Lumpur to the community area in deep in the mountian range. The journey from the nearby town called Tapah, Perak took us about 3 hours drive with 4 wheels drive. It was very beautiful and scenic drive through the jungle and encounters with so many beautiful spots.

Here is the video!

You can see the timelapse video of me working on the mural at the primary school buolding's wall. Enjoy!

New Artwork for my Solo Exhibition at National Gallery.

Here the timeplapse video of my current artwork. At the moment i'm in the process of archiving my artwork into digital media. Here is the video, you can watch it on my youtube channel.

                        Please dont forget to subscribes my channell for more similar contents.

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My Twitter: (@ShaqKoyok): https://twitter.com/ShaqKoyok?s=09

Follow Instagram for updates: @shaqkoyok_art https://www.instagram.com/shaqkoyok_ar

Finally I Finished my BIGGEST Mural!

This the process how i painted a biggest mural. Check out the video of the process behind the mural in my youtube channel. Dont forget to click like and subscribes!

                                                       My Biggest Mural Finally finished!

The titled of the mural " The light of the Mah Meri Surviving Material Culture", painted on the wall of teh two-storey Centre for Malaysian Indigenous Studies (CMIS), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is portrait of good friend of mine, she is Mah Meri cultural activist. For this mural i work with outdoor polimer acrylic paints. In this mural i want to show the beautiful of aditional Mah Meri attire that Maznah often wears. And i want to the portrait to look as part of the building.

You can read the article by The Star Newspaper about thi mural. Here is the link: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2020/06/29/malaysian-indigenous-artist-shaq-koyok039s-mural-pays-tribute-to-mah-meri-cultural-activist

Archiving my work on Youtube. Preparing for my solo exhibition at National Gallery, Malaysia.

Here the process how i painted the protrait using pandanous weaving as my canvas. Do check it out here and please subscribes my channel for more contents !

Studio VLOG: Painting on pandanous weaving.

Since the Covid19 pandemic, i been spending lot of time to learn how make video content for my youtube channel. It is funny that pandemic has brought me to explore youtube contents seriously. So i have been enjoy making contents especially recording the process of my artwork. Hope you enjoy my video content in my youtube channel.

My new interview by Cynthia from Awani Review at Shalini Ganendra Fine Art, Petaling Jaya

Shaq Koyok: An Artistic Per-Temuan

Please click the link below to view the full interview

http://www.awanireview.com/shaq-koyok-an-artistic-per-temuan/ 

Check out my new presentation at Sunway University

"In Conversation With Malaysian Indigenous Artist Shaq Koyok" by The Human Lens

https://saadiahaq.wordpress.com/2018/01/17/in-conversation-with-malaysian-indigenous-artist-shaq-koyok/

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR THE ARTICLE.

New Straits Times on Merdeka Award ceremony.

Orang Asli researcher among three recipients of special arts and sciences grant

The recipients of the International Merdeka Award Grant of the International Placement Research Grant 2017 (from left) Dr. Sophia Rasheeqa Ismail, Shahar A / L Koyok and Dr. Zetty Norhana Balia Yusof pictured at the Merdeka Award Grant 2017 at the Petronas Twin Towers today. (BERNAMA)

 

 

By TEH ATHIRA YUSOF - December 13, 2017 @ 7:50pm

KUALA LUMPUR: An Orang Asli researcher from Selangor was among the three recipients awarded with grants from the Merdeka Award 2017 International Grant on their studies for arts and sciences.

Artiste Shahar Koyok, 32, a Temuan from Banting was the first Orang Asli to receive the grant as well as the first recipient of the Education and Community category.
Shahar said his research will explore indigenous art within the context of the diverse ethnic and culture of Malaysia while emphasising the Merdeka spirit.

“The goal of my research is to regain attention to the indigenous culture in Malaysia, particularly, in arts. Hopefully, the research will show how important for Malaysians to learn about the history of the orang asli and it will be placed in the textbooks,” he said.

The recipients were announced by Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who is also the Royal Patron of the Merdeka Award Trust here.Sultan Nazrin said the grant offers the recipients to realise a study or research abroad and also to serve as a role model to the younger generation.

“Merdeka Award is to promote innovation and thought leadership while passing the torch to the next generation to sustain Malaysia’s success as a dynamic and competitive global player in sectors from science and technology to the arts and humanities.

“These three talented young Malaysians will add to the total number of 11 recipients since the International Grant’s inception in 2012. They will make the best of their opportunity with experts, collect valuable insights for their fields of research and develop solutions for the people,” he said at the event.

The recipients were announced by Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who is also the Royal Patron of the Merdeka Award Trust . (pix by SAIRIEN NAFIS)

 

Sultan Nazrin added to commit with Merdeka Awards’ objective, there will be an inaugural “Merdeka Meeting” with Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) to discuss on the nation’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects this Dec 16.

The other two recipients were, Institute for Medical Research officer (research medical) Dr Sophia Rasheeqa Ismail, 30, whose research focuses on the studies of cardiovascular disease especially on lipids and the risk of Myocardial infarction (MI) faced by Malaysian men.

While Dr Zetty Norhana Baila Yusof, 35, research focuses on exploring the use of Malaysian seaweeds as an alternative agent to control basal stem rot (BSR) disease that significantly reduces palm oil yield caused by Ganode fungus.
Also present at the event was Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin and ExxonMobil chairman Edward E. Graham.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/12/314109/orang-asli-researcher-among-three-recipients-special-arts-and-sciences