The Malayan Landscape Paintings
Landscape paintings were one of the earliest visual art renditions of the Malay land in Malaysia. Traveller artists who arrived in Malaya and Singapore during the 18th and 19th centuries illustrated various subject matters that they observed. The most common examples included tropical flora and fau...
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SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts
2025-01-01
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| Series: | SPAFA Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafajournal/article/view/847 |
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| author | Sarena Abdullah Yuen Beng Lee |
| author_facet | Sarena Abdullah Yuen Beng Lee |
| author_sort | Sarena Abdullah |
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Landscape paintings were one of the earliest visual art renditions of the Malay land in Malaysia. Traveller artists who arrived in Malaya and Singapore during the 18th and 19th centuries illustrated various subject matters that they observed. The most common examples included tropical flora and fauna, various views and landscapes, British residences, and so on. The theme of a tremendously fertile land with beautiful natural resources and prosperous economic activities is among the few themes and representations that were drawn or painted by early Malayan artists in the early 20th century. Landscape can be considered the most significant and intrinsic pictorial form in modern Malaysian art, as it was one of the earliest mediums of visual impressions and expressions. This article explores the evolution of the representation of Malaysia in landscape paintings from the early 19th century to mid-20th century by examining selected works and discussing how these artistic renditions reflect the changes that were happening in Malaya, from the types of landscapes produced by British artist-officers to how the British government mooted the Malayan cultural strategy to gain public trust and confidence in their ability to combat insurgency. These could be seen as how art exhibitions and institutions, the encouragement of certain art-production through predominantly featured picturesque and peaceful landscapes, and portrayals that create a sense of calm and tranquillity amidst the violent climate of the Malayan Emergency were intended to alleviate anxieties and provide solace to the public.
Lukisan lanskap merupakan salah satu daripada karya seni visual yang paling awal menggambarkan tanah Melayu di Malaysia. Seniman pengembara yang tiba di Malaya dan Singapura pada abad ke-18 dan ke-19 merakamkan pelbagai subjek yang mereka perhatikan pada masa itu. Contoh yang paling biasa termasuk flora dan fauna tropika, pemandangan dan lanskap yang pelbagai, kediaman British, dan sebagainya. Tema tanah yang sangat subur dengan sumber semulajadi yang indah dan aktiviti ekonomi yang makmur adalah antara tema dan representasi yang dilukis oleh seniman Malaya/Malaysia pada awal abad ke-20. Lanskap boleh dianggap sebagai bentuk lukisan paling penting dan intrinsik dalam seni moden Malaysia, kerana ia merupakan salah satu medium awal untuk kesan dan ekspresi visual. Artikel ini meneliti evolusi representasi Malaya dalam lukisan landskap dari abad ke-19 hingga pertengahan abad ke-20. Artikel ini mengkaji karya-karya landskap yang dipilih dan membincangkan bagaimana hasil seni ini mencerminkan perubahan yang berlaku di Malaya, daripada jenis landskap yang dihasilkan oleh pegawai-seniman British sehingga bagaimana kerajaan British merancang strategi budaya Malaya untuk mendapatkan kepercayaan dan keyakinan orang ramai dalam keupayaan mereka untuk menangani pemberontakan. Ini boleh dilihat sebagai bagaimana pameran seni dan institusi, menggalakkan pembuatan seni tertentu secara predominan yang lanskap indah dan damai, dan penggambaran yang mencipta rasa ketenangan dan kedamaian di tengah-tengah cuaca darurat yang bergejolak bertujuan untuk mengurangkan kegelisahan dan memberikan ketenangan kepada orang awam.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a68c1d5c908d44319b3223598eab7547 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0858-1975 2586-8721 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SPAFA Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-a68c1d5c908d44319b3223598eab75472025-02-11T02:41:35ZengSEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine ArtsSPAFA Journal0858-19752586-87212025-01-019The Malayan Landscape PaintingsSarena Abdullah0Yuen Beng Lee1Universiti Sains MalaysiaSunway University Landscape paintings were one of the earliest visual art renditions of the Malay land in Malaysia. Traveller artists who arrived in Malaya and Singapore during the 18th and 19th centuries illustrated various subject matters that they observed. The most common examples included tropical flora and fauna, various views and landscapes, British residences, and so on. The theme of a tremendously fertile land with beautiful natural resources and prosperous economic activities is among the few themes and representations that were drawn or painted by early Malayan artists in the early 20th century. Landscape can be considered the most significant and intrinsic pictorial form in modern Malaysian art, as it was one of the earliest mediums of visual impressions and expressions. This article explores the evolution of the representation of Malaysia in landscape paintings from the early 19th century to mid-20th century by examining selected works and discussing how these artistic renditions reflect the changes that were happening in Malaya, from the types of landscapes produced by British artist-officers to how the British government mooted the Malayan cultural strategy to gain public trust and confidence in their ability to combat insurgency. These could be seen as how art exhibitions and institutions, the encouragement of certain art-production through predominantly featured picturesque and peaceful landscapes, and portrayals that create a sense of calm and tranquillity amidst the violent climate of the Malayan Emergency were intended to alleviate anxieties and provide solace to the public. Lukisan lanskap merupakan salah satu daripada karya seni visual yang paling awal menggambarkan tanah Melayu di Malaysia. Seniman pengembara yang tiba di Malaya dan Singapura pada abad ke-18 dan ke-19 merakamkan pelbagai subjek yang mereka perhatikan pada masa itu. Contoh yang paling biasa termasuk flora dan fauna tropika, pemandangan dan lanskap yang pelbagai, kediaman British, dan sebagainya. Tema tanah yang sangat subur dengan sumber semulajadi yang indah dan aktiviti ekonomi yang makmur adalah antara tema dan representasi yang dilukis oleh seniman Malaya/Malaysia pada awal abad ke-20. Lanskap boleh dianggap sebagai bentuk lukisan paling penting dan intrinsik dalam seni moden Malaysia, kerana ia merupakan salah satu medium awal untuk kesan dan ekspresi visual. Artikel ini meneliti evolusi representasi Malaya dalam lukisan landskap dari abad ke-19 hingga pertengahan abad ke-20. Artikel ini mengkaji karya-karya landskap yang dipilih dan membincangkan bagaimana hasil seni ini mencerminkan perubahan yang berlaku di Malaya, daripada jenis landskap yang dihasilkan oleh pegawai-seniman British sehingga bagaimana kerajaan British merancang strategi budaya Malaya untuk mendapatkan kepercayaan dan keyakinan orang ramai dalam keupayaan mereka untuk menangani pemberontakan. Ini boleh dilihat sebagai bagaimana pameran seni dan institusi, menggalakkan pembuatan seni tertentu secara predominan yang lanskap indah dan damai, dan penggambaran yang mencipta rasa ketenangan dan kedamaian di tengah-tengah cuaca darurat yang bergejolak bertujuan untuk mengurangkan kegelisahan dan memberikan ketenangan kepada orang awam. https://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafajournal/article/view/847Landscape paintingsMalayan EmergencyMalayan artMalaysian art |
| spellingShingle | Sarena Abdullah Yuen Beng Lee The Malayan Landscape Paintings SPAFA Journal Landscape paintings Malayan Emergency Malayan art Malaysian art |
| title | The Malayan Landscape Paintings |
| title_full | The Malayan Landscape Paintings |
| title_fullStr | The Malayan Landscape Paintings |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Malayan Landscape Paintings |
| title_short | The Malayan Landscape Paintings |
| title_sort | malayan landscape paintings |
| topic | Landscape paintings Malayan Emergency Malayan art Malaysian art |
| url | https://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafajournal/article/view/847 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarenaabdullah themalayanlandscapepaintings AT yuenbenglee themalayanlandscapepaintings AT sarenaabdullah malayanlandscapepaintings AT yuenbenglee malayanlandscapepaintings |