JULY 25 — Langkawi island is not as well-known for its artistic and cultural heritage as the Indonesian island of Bali. It also has a long way to go to catch up with the tourist industry of Phuket which is a little to the north of the Andaman sea. But what these three islands have in common is their 550 million-year-old geological heritage, their surrounding seas and unique tropical landscape and weather.

However, neither Bali nor Phuket (so far) have been awarded the geopark status by Unesco. Langkawi was given the world geopark award in 2007. With joint research between LESTARI of UKM and LADA, the island’s ecotourism concept fulfilled all the international requirements of a geopark. 

Artists from all over the world have been making  their way to South-East Asia, especially Bali, for over 60 years and many never left. One of the most famous early European artists, Walter Spies (1895-1942) was living and working in Ubud, Bali, from the 1930s till his death in 1942. He and his artistic friends helped put Bali artists and art in the Western art market.

Besides, Bali had the benefit of its more then 500-year-old Hindu and Chinese linguistic and cultural heritage. There were already many generations of artists, priests, musicians, intellectuals there to greet the new visitors. Bali was and still is bursting with traditional artistic and cultural life.

Langkawi, although with a Hindu history as long as Bali’s, didn’t have the same artistic luck. Instead, to kick start the island and put it on the tourist market, Langkawi was made duty-free in 1987, mainly to attract more visitors and to promote it as a tourist destination, locally and internationally. Lots of governmental and private efforts and money have been expended to “make it work commercially.”

The late Kedah-born artist Ibrahim Hussein (1936-2009), in 1992, launched an art museum named after himself in Langkawi. He was granted the land but he got public funding to build a modern art institution. Its aim was to promote, develop and advance art and culture, not just for the island and its artistic community, but with an aspiration for international success.

Ibrahim Hussein was undoubtedly one of the country’s foremost artists and has left behind an outstanding collection of artwork which is on show at the gallery. His legacy has not just set the artistic standard for the island but also for the rest of the country and the region.

In the last 20 years, the Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation has mainly been a personal platform for the artist to display and promote his own artworks. It’s no doubt an important cultural symbol but what about the rest of the artistic life on the island?

Artist Azahari Osman, 59, and his fashion designer wife have been living and working in Langkawi for 22 years. They both operate the Atma Alam Batik Art Village, near the airport, a successful business in batek fashion products and artworks. 

Azahari said, “To start a batek art business here 22 years ago was not easy. There were no artists here in those days except for the artist/builders for the traditional houses. There were mainly padi farmers and rubber tappers and fishermen.

“We had to work hard from the beginning. Many artists working on the island today had their art training working for us. It has been all worthwhile. Now we can start enjoying a bit of the financial success. I can now spend more time doing my paintings.”

He said that his latest painting “Moon Bird” is not about the bird symbol of Langkawi, the Brahim Kite, but more about his own dream images of the other flying creatures hovering over the landscape of Machinchang near his home and showroom. This is an artistic sign of protection for him and his family.

In 2008, some local artists came together to form the Langkawi Artists Group. The current president, Salleh, 60, from Johor, is one of the most active and sought-after. Salleh works on all sorts of commissions, from Jawi script calligraphy for religious buildings to murals for all kinds of display.

This community of artists is hopefully one of the many growing interests and efforts, private and governmental, developing the future of the island’s cultural life.  So, on any day, visitors to the island may chance upon one of this group of artists, displaying their artworks in various hotel lobbies and at other official functions. Most of the time, they also do demonstrations of their various ways of art making. 

The native islanders enjoy a life of their own but most of the working population that service the tourist industry are from other states and countries. Many of them take on more than one job to make ends meet during the low tourist seasons.

Bob Osman, 63, from Seramban, is a tour guide and also paints when he is not driving visitors around the place. Many of his artworks are sold to the visitors who have come to know him through his tours. His wife works as a dressmaker from home. They both are happy about how life has worked out for them so far.

In the future and perhaps even generations to come, hopefully,  there will be a local artistic and cultural tradition.

Contact: The Langkawi Artists Group, Tel: Khairudin +60174315057, Azahari : +6012 4989656, Bob Osman +60192125363, Facebook: Langkawi Artist

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.