Classification Design Motifs of Traditional Malay Wood Carving

Abstract

The art of traditional wood carving is part of the common tangible heritage, which can be seen in traditional houses, mosques, and palaces in Southeast Asian countries. Therefore, the intricate design motifs of wood carving displayed intermix of design features and characteristic. Traditional wood carving is the most significant Malay ornamental art. The creative expressions of the Malay wood carving are very much influenced by the religious, moral, and ethical values of the craftsmen, which are developed as an act of submission to the Almighty. The study of this research examines the practical aspects that explain the creative and aesthetic aspiration of Malay wood carving. Data collection and analysis are gathered through a variety of means such as observation, interview, photograph, and written description, which occur concurrently with data analysis, where the explanations provided are analyzed and interpreted. It is hoped that the study would provide useful evidence of the existence of ethical values on Malay traditional wood carving. The findings could serve as valuable references for researchers who are concerned with the study of Malay traditional art of wood carving.