A Samry A/L Abdul Rahman

Place: Carey Island

Born: 2006

Biography:

Samry a/l Abdul Rahman, also known as A Samry a/l Abdul Rahman, is a Mah Meri indigenous mask carver from Carey Island, Malaysia. He is known for his work on the Ampai Ancestor Mask, created in 2006. The Mah Meri tribe is part of the Senoi people, one of the indigenous peoples of Malaysia. They have a tradition of carving masks from wood as a sign of reverence to their ancestors, who are regarded as powerful and should be revered. The word 'Moyang' used for every mask refers to the ancestors who are believed to be the guardians in safeguarding their peaceful existence and in meeting out punishments. Punishments handed out such as sickness, difficulty in hunting tasks, failure in planting. Samry a/l Abdul Rahman's work is inspired by the spiritual world of the Orang Asli, a world filled with supernatural forces – both good and evil. He is one of the artists who conducts mask carving workshops for small dedicated groups to learn the art of Woodcarving, Leaf Origami & Pandanus weaving. Participants interact directly with the artists and should be able to make simple products at the end of the day. Woodcarving would need a longer period of time to achieve a good level of competency. Price includes all tools and materials.