Shaq Koyok

International Indigenous Art Festival 2015. What a Blast!

Art talk by Shaq Koyok

Cultural perfomance by Temiar tribe from Kelantan state.

Cultural performance by Temuan from Selangor state.

Traditional dance by Sabah's Kadazan-Dusun tribe.

Mah Meri tribe dancers of Selangor getting ready for their turn.

Beautiful dancer of Mah Meri.

Beautiful Temuan dancer from Selangor state.

Dancers and Sape guitarist from Sarawak state.

Igorot tribe of Philipines.

The audience join the dance.

Jahut tribe with their performance.

Temiar male dancers of Kelantan.

Selangor Indigenous Art Festival Art 2015

Come join us in the first ever Selangor International Indigenous Art Festival in Selangor, Malaysia! See you there!

Orang Asli| Voices of Malaysia’s Aboriginal People Reaching Masses

Source from: https://saadiahaq.wordpress.com/2015/07/03/orang-asli-voices-of-malaysias-aboriginal-people-reaching-masses/

The artist Shaq Koyok was born in Kampung Pulau Kempas in Banting, Selangor. He started painting with oil pastels at five years old, using his talent as a way to express his feelings about everything that happened around him, weaving a tapestry of sensitive human emotions and events in his life and most importantly the “rights of indigenous people in Malaysia.”

As he turned 13, Koyok started drawing portraits and since then has worked with many mediums. Today, this young artist armed with an honors degree in fine arts from MARA, he has produced works reflecting his growing concern about the Orang Asli people in Malaysia. In his own words, Koyok says “My activism activities remain the most important to me. I shed light on issues affecting my community.”

With growing developmental projects in Malaysia, vast amounts of the rain-forest that once covered Peninsular Malaysia have been cut or burnt down for commercial purposes. The risk to environment, land and indigenous people continues to grow as Malaysia partners with first world countries in the race to become more advanced and rich.

In this scenario, native tribes like Orang Asli are concerned about their coming future. They are listed into the world’s indigenous people, the term Orang Asli means “natural people” or “aboriginal people” in Malay, is a generic Malaysian term used for people indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia. Officially, there are 18 Orang Asli tribes and today they comprise only 0.5% of the total population in Malaysia with a total number approximately is somewhere around 148,000.

Malaysia track record, as well as international community support for assistance to Orang Asli has been historically unsatisfactory and needs to be criticized. An artist like Shaq Koyok is testament to the growing concerns of the remaining Orang Asli who sit precariously between Mother Nature and business, and whose voices are deliberately suppressed by those sitting in power. The artist’s love for nature and cultural preservation comes from his roots, and Mother Earth that is depicted in his artistic masterpieces.

Shaq also collaborates with North South Initiative, Malaysia run NGO by using its office space as a gallery which simultaneously gives visitors and collaborators a glimpse into Shaq’s creative world.

Shaq Koyok despite living in an urbanized setting has a deep love for nature and cultural preservation coming from his roots, and is depicted in his talent to his raise awareness. More over he is disturbed by the plight faced by his people today — from the loss of land to the destruction of the surrounding, natural habitat.

He says, “Art allows me to express what I cannot put into words. Orang Asli communities face many problems with modernity; they’ve been slow to embrace it. I feel it’s my responsibility to spread the message, and tell their side of the story. I hope the world can see what’s happening, as there’s a story behind every painting.”

The above painting called “In Confessions Of Palm Oil,” Shaq Koyok depicts how the planting of the crop has deprived the Orang Asli community of fertile soil for their agriculture. Shaq’s primary inspiration for his artwork is his own people – the Orang Asli and he fights through art to see the change he wants for indigenous peoples here.

In today’s world, the voices of the little known tribe Orang Asli and issues haven’t been given attention because the community is too small. But Shaq’s work is a strong voice for the change necessary for the preservation of one of the last remaining native people in the world.

Guest Speaker at UKM, 2013

Art and culture workshop in 1 week English Camp at Jahai primary School, Jeli, Kelantan

Village entrance

One of their favourite activities.

Showing off!

They love to do self portraits.

Cetong drummer

The adult Jahai teaching their younger the art of traditional weaving.

They just love hanging around in the school even the school time is finished.

The kids was really great in playing these "Cetong" drum (bamboo drum).

First impression on Cambodia

S21 ex-prisoner who survived because he is an artist and telling his sad story in his paintings and this is book about his amazing story of true survivor.

Sad but truth of human ignorant on killing their own kind because difference mindset, memorial monument at Killing field.

The Extermination Camp, Killing Field, Phnom Penh, Cambodia


In front of Independent Monument


First impression on Tuk Tuk, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Another article from Star News paper! (Thanks Star news paper..)

Community

Published: Wednesday April 16, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM

Art with a primal message

BY JEREMY TAN

INDIGENOUS local artist Shaq Koyok hopes to shed light on issues affecting his community, and effect a positive change through the wonder of art.

The 29-year-old, born in the orang asli settlement of Kampung Pulau Kempas in Banting, Selangor, has a strong connection with his roots, and uses his talents to raise awareness.

Though he has lived in modern cities since the age of 13, he is disturbed by the plight faced by his people today — from the loss of land to the destruction of the surrounding, natural habitat.

“Art allows me to express what I cannot put into words. Orang asli communities face many problems with modernity; they’ve been slow to embrace it.

“I feel it’s my responsibility to spread the message, and tell their side of the story.

“I hope the world can see what’s happening, as there’s a story behind every painting,” said Koyok, whose immediate family still lives in the Temuan tribe settlement.

The affable artist, currently based in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, said this at the opening ceremony of his ongoing, self-titled solo art exhibition at the G Art Gallery in G Hotel, Penang, recently.

It features 32 pieces, done using acrylic and mixed media, in his signature, vibrant style. Each captures his concern about the world of the aboriginal people in Malaysia, through emotive expressions on the face of his subjects.

Among them, a monochrome piece, ‘Smells Like a Burnt Spirit’, stands out. It is a poignant commentary on the grave effects of deforestation and land clearing, through open burning.

“I picked up a piece of still smouldering charcoal, and later used it to do the sketch piece.

“It’s heart-wrenching for me, because these places were once lush and green. They were pristine and untouched by pollution. It used to be my playground,” he lamented.

Koyok started painting at the age of five using oil pastels, largely inspired by an older brother who is now a forest ranger.

He indulged his passion throughout boarding school, and graduated with a Fine Arts degree from University Teknologi Mara.

To date, he has exhibited his works in Britain, Australia, the United States and throughout Malaysia.

One with his head firmly planted on broad shoulders, he is also a speaker at many workshops and events, telling his story to anyone who would listen.

During the ceremony, guests were also asked to scribble on a blank canvas, any words that came to mind at the mention of ‘orang asli’. Koyok later put on a live demonstration, painting over the piece.

In his speech, G Hotel general manager Michael Hanratty said he was impressed by the artist’s spirit, and the strong message behind his works, when he first met him two years ago.

“Our gallery will continue to showcase the best of Malaysian artists, and give them a platform to shine,” he added.

The Shaq Koyok Contemporary Indigenous Artist exhibition continues until June 30, at the gallery located on the hotel’s Level 1 Link Bridge. It is available around the clock and admission is free.