Fine Art and Craft Branch
Fine art refers to the process of constructing, creating, or producing objects and artefacts through creativity and a very high level of craftsmanship. It is also described as the production of artistic works in the form of drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Fine art has long coloured the everyday life of Malaysian society and is inherited through generational learning passed down from one generation to the next, forming a rich legacy of fine artistic traditions. Fine art is categorised into attire, textiles, and personal adornment. Craft, on the other hand, refers to artistic work undertaken to produce various items. It encompasses weaving, carved motifs, embroidery, tekat, textile weaving, ceramics, and metalwork.
Among the art forms closely associated with Malaysia’s multi-ethnic society are woodcarving in residential houses and mosques, pottery and ceramic production, batik-making, mengkuang mat weaving, songket weaving, silver and gold tekat, pua kumbu, headcloths and woven textiles, beadwork, brassware production, personal ornaments, and many other forms of fine art. The motifs employed in these artistic traditions are influenced by the natural environment, such as flora and fauna, as well as calligraphy and astronomy. These works of fine art reflect the skill, ingenuity, and mastery of their makers, who produce traditional handcrafted works of exceptional refinement and high value. Each artistic creation also embodies its own distinct philosophy.