Commissioned: Tanahair Installation Art
Commissioned: Tanahair Installation Art
Year: 2016
Medium: Stoneware ceramic
Dimensions: 3000 x 18 x 3000
Description
This piece of installation work is a tribute to the "orang laut" or "orang Seletar"
"tanahair" (literally means land and water in the malay lanquage when combined becomes a word for homeland). The material used is our local clay and fired with a white glaze representing the land and installed on water. An illustrated print of their "perahu" or boats are also fired on the surface in black. The result is a black and white impression of the boats seemingly appearing from the past. When they are placed on the surface of the water, the orbs present the boats as appearing from the time portals. The experience is further enhanced by the reflection on the surface of the water. White fishing floats that the orang laut uses today for fishing are placed in between the ceramics to add drama and depth to the installation.
Tanahair is spelled as one word because in their world it is inseparable.