Malaysian art focus of exhibit

The IU Art Museum is continuing efforts to highlight the best artistry from around the world with a unique collection of traditional Malaysian art. The collection was loaned to the museum by Mary Ruth Linville Jumper, who lived in Malaysia from 1986 to 1991. The exhibit, "Spirits in Wood: Contemporary Sculpture from Malaysia," is organized by Diane Pelrine, curator of arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas.\nThe exhibit consists of 10 sculptures made by the Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Malaysia.\n"The Orang Asli consists of very small indigenous tribes who speak completely unrelated languages. While small groups of them live on the western peninsula of Malaysia, most of them live on the island of Borneo," said Roxana Newman, assistant dean of international programs. \nThe exhibit features figures the Orang Asli use for religious and healing purposes. While the figures on display were not originally used for such purposes, they are similar to those that were and still are being used by these peoples. \n"Carvers have expanded upon traditional carving to make these pieces into a form of contemporary sculpture," Pelrine said.\nThe sculptures are made of wood by two groups of the Orang Asli -- the Jah Het and the Mah Meri. \n"These people use these sculptures for traditional healing rituals," Jumper said. "Once an illness has been diagnosed, the appropriate sculpture is used to rid the body of the illness and the sculpture is then thrown into a river. The art reflects the superstitious nature of the Orang Asli." \nJumper collected nearly 100 pieces of sculpture from the Orang Asli during her stay in Malaysia. She decided to do this when she set her eyes on Orang Asli sculpture for the very first time. \n"Their carving tools are extremely primitive, and yet they do such beautiful work on these sculptures," Jumper said.\nBecause of the rapid infusion of modernism even to the most remote part of Malaysia, the Orang Asli have split into two groups. \n"Part of them wants to assimilate into modern Malaysian culture while the rest of them prefer the traditional life in the forests of Malaysia," Jumper said.\nThe sculptures on display are cultural symbols of a people whose lifestyle is being threatened by contemporary Malaysian culture. Many sculptures are made to be sold for money as opposed to serving a religious or healing purpose.\nThe exhibit promises to give people an insight into the Orang Asli, the original people of Malaysia who are virtually unheard of in this country.\n"Very little is known about these people in the U.S. IU does not have a whole lot of programs or courses relating to Malaysia," Pelrine said. "This would be a unique experience for anyone who looks at the exhibits"