The Encyclopedia of Malaysia 14: Crafts and the Visual Arts

The diversity of crafts and visual arts in Malaysia is a reflection of its age-old cultural traditions, pluralistic society and exposure to external influences over the centuries. This volume explores the origins and development of the country’s rich artistic heritage and provides a comprehensive overview of significant Malaysian crafts and artworks. The volume begins by discussing the various types of traditional crafts, their form and function and the elements that have influenced their evolution, thereby laying the foundation for the more detailed examination that follows. The next sections of the volume showcase the beauty and history of the crafts of pottery and earthenware, woodcraft and carving, plaiting and basketware, textiles and embroidery, metalware, and recreational and ceremonial crafts. The development of the modern art tradition in Malaysia from the 1920s and the establishment of local art infrastructure from the 1950s are covered in the last two sections of the volume. These sections trace how, in tandem with national development and the search for identity following Independence, modern art has evolved to become a medium of expression for uniquely Malaysian subjects and discourse. In the early 21st century, artworks by Malaysian artists are treasured by collectors and are appreciated not only for their artistic merit but also for their commercial value.