Art of Woodcarving in Timber Mosques of Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Thailand

Ismail Said
The Second International Conference on Mosque Architecture- Future Prospect, Art University, Iran-Kashan 12-14 Oct.2000

Woodcarving in vernacular timber mosques of Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Thailand is a manifestation of a craftsman's idea into a piece of timber. It is a craft that is generated and nurtured from careful observation by the Malay craftsman towards the surrounding landscape elements particularly of plant forms. The manifestation is always in abstraction, symbolizing the plant feature or geometry into three types of architectural components, namely, structural, elemental and ornament. Cengal timber is the favorite hardwood species for carving which is carved either in relief or perforated manner. The significant effect of woodcarving in the mosque is that it enhances beauty and introduces symbolism to the vernacular architecture of the Pattani region. Although the skills of this craft are fast diminishing in the present Malay society, its revival could be generated through informing the public about the beauty of the craft.