THE Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia has always been one of the nation's more globally inclined cultural institutions. With the exhibition 'Oceans that Speak: Islam and the Emergence of the Malay World', the museum is getting closer to home. The Malay world incorporates Malaysia and much more. The exhibition is about an entire, and often overlooked, region.
The development of this region is a story about islands — and a peninsula — without being insular. It is a corner of the world that has mostly looked outwards.
Not a land-bound, Trumpist fortress with a wall to keep out "undesirables". It is about oceans and interaction and a mostly warm welcome offered to those who maintained the network of trade that continues to keep the world alive today.
Instead of being all about borders and land, it's about the unifying force of the sea, or seas, as this corner of the region is the meeting point of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea plus a few others.
Trade has been the essence of these communities, long before the Spice Route made it the most contested region in the world, several centuries ago. Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain and England all fought it out for shiploads of the most precious substances on earth at the time. Cloves, mace and nutmeg are now in every supermarket, but at the time they caused wars between European powers desperate to boost their revenue and improve their cuisine.
OF PEOPLE, IDEAS AND FAITH
'Oceans that Speak' is an eloquent expression of world history, with a special emphasis on Southeast Asia. The objects on display are especially articulate. It's a tribute to the sea, which we tend not to think much about unless it's holiday time.
The word Nusantara doesn't turn up often at this exhibition; it means "Outer Islands", usually known as the Malay Archipelago. The term "Malay world" is more recent and more relevant. It includes the Semenanjung Tanah Melayu — in other words, dry land. The real story is what has happened on the waters around us.
The oceans have brought people, ideas and faith. The evidence is all around us, although we have to look carefully to see the art that came with all this movement. 'Oceans that Speak' is a rare overview of the aesthetic and intellectual development of a region that has been reasserting its place in the wider world.
The exhibition includes more than 100 artefacts. Each one tells a story of migration, exploration, integration and diplomatic and religious exchanges. The big picture is much larger than Southeast Asia.
HUMAN INSIGHTS
The connections extend to three sides of the Indian Ocean. From Cape Town to Cairo and southern Arabia, the movement of people has been a significant factor. There are geographical twists and turns in these stories, too.
The Hadhrami descendants who propagated Islam in the Malay world rarely travelled directly from Yemen. Instead, they arrived after settling in Gujarat and then crossing the Bay of Bengal. At the same time, Malays from Southeast Asia were being sent to Sri Lanka and Cape Town.
It's a complex situation, just like the colonial authorities' deportation of people around the empire they carved out in this part of Asia. The artistic heritage of these diasporas has mostly been lost, while their written legacy lives on.
'Oceans that Speak' is also about oceans that write. The communication between individuals in the extended Malay world is a vital part of this exhibition. It provides very human insights into everything — from the distribution of gifts such as palm dates from the Hijaz to a pantun that shows the impression made on a pilgrim when seeing Mecca for the first time.
ISLAM ARRIVES
The arrival of Islam, with its contested dates that go back at least 800 years, brought changes to language and writing systems. It was out with Indic scripts and in with calligraphy, especially when of the Arabic style.
There were also less-total overhauls such as the pre-existing monstrous head of Kala turned into discreet vegetal motifs found on wood carvings. Images such as the Kaabah in Makkah become important parts of local design and manuscripts.
The global exchange of goods saw new materials entering the Malay world from distant lands. These ranged from betel-nut and tobacco containers to wooden dowry chests and textiles. All of these are prominently on display at the exhibition, along with more-hidden symbolism. Talismanic devices such as the Ottoman tughra and the Seal of Solomon appeared across various materials for protective or decorative purposes.
Other items were exported overseas. These were not just trade goods. An object as culturally significant as a keris was given to a King of England four centuries ago and has been kept there ever since. In the exhibition, there is a gold-filigree inkwell, probably made in Java for a Dutch king two centuries ago.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TEXTILES
The pen is often mightier than the sword, and calligraphic textiles show how powerful this medium can be. Textiles in general have always been significant in Southeast Asia and there are many on display.
Indian cloths influenced Malay-world weavers who in turn influenced Europe and Africa. Metalwork and woodcarvings also have a long history. They are a complex blend of Islamic and other aesthetics, often from Hindu-Buddhist and animist traditions.
The emphasis remained much the same as the Islamic heartlands: to embellish the mundane was more important than creating what is now considered fine art. In the Malay world, this tended to mean multiple connections with Nature.
There is no part of the Islamic community with as many tendrils and sundry lush vegetation in their art as in Southeast Asia. Everything from Qur'an illumination to wooden architectural features is alive with the richness of the natural world. These are mostly unfamiliar treasures, even to the residents of the region.
All of this creative activity was facilitated by ships. The oceans around the region were a highway, not a hindrance. Located as the exhibition is, in the heart of Malaysia's capital city, it's hard to believe the sea is only 40 kilometres away.
Follow Lucien de Guise at Instagram @crossxcultural.
'OCEANS THAT SPEAK: ISLAM AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE MALAY WORLD'
WHERE: Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Jalan Lembah, Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur
WHEN: Until June 2025.