In the contemporary art created by Muslim women from Thailand's restive southern provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani, there is a depth that reaches out and speaks to the heart.
The five in question are Kufosiyah Nibuesa, Nuriya Waji, Heedayah Mahavi and Arichama Pakapet, along with Keeta Isran, their mentor and former art professor at Songkla University, Pattani. The artists have collaborated on staging their debut exhibition in the capital titled "Muslimah" (Muslim Woman), to be held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) from today until Aug 27.
Fellow Songkla University Professor Nuratna Hawae, who was not able to make it for the exhibition, sent exhibits offering a taste of the outdoors in southern Thailand.
Coming this far has been anything but easy for this bunch of talented women. It has been through grit, perseverance and passion that the lot have produced some spellbinding artwork depicting Muslim women in their individual communities and families.
They have proved beyond doubt that being a Muslim woman is no hindrance when it comes to following your heart's desires. Under the watchful eyes of 31-year-old Keeta, who handpicked the artists for this exhibition, the young women have come up with a class-act presentation of their individual talents, be it with paintbrush, pencil or recycled fishing nets.
Behind Arichama Pakapet, middle, is an artwork made from fishing nets and water hyacinth. Beside her are fellow artists Keeta Isran, left, and Kufosiyah Nibuesa. Arichama's attempts to portray the complexities that come from being a woman are caught in the intricately handwoven fishing net. Fibres woven in a grid-like structure signify her determined spirit to fight the odds in life to reach her goal.
To be given a platform to shine requires someone to believe in their abilities, and for the four, Keeta has been their biggest supporter. An established artist, she had this to say about her former students: "Each of my girls bring to the table a unique form of art that will offer the audience an opportunity to understand that there is still a lot of beauty and goodness left in the restive southern provinces.
"These young artists need a platform to showcase their work. Together with BACC and Art Exhibition by De' Lapae Contemporary Art Space, Narathiwat, we hope this exhibition will give them the exposure required to take their careers to the next level.
"As their mentor, my biggest worry is how they will weather the period before they stage their first solo exhibition -- whether they will be able to continue with their art after marriage and if they opt to remain single, how will they financially support themselves while continuing with their work?"
Kufosiyah Nibuesa's good eye for observing people has helped her to bring about a realistic depiction of an encounter she has had. Much of the materials she uses is recycled and easily attainable. With painstaking precision, she maps out each process. A perfectionist, she leaves no stone upturned. Sometimes starting from scratch even though she is halfway done. Kufosiyah, who opts to think outside the box when it comes to her artwork, appreciates art from the West. She looks forward to taking her work abroad in the near future. To perfect her craft, she is thirsty for knowledge which she believes can also come from new experiences in life. Studying for her master's degree outside from her home province is just one of many ways to achieve that.
While these are relevant concerns, the young artists are prepared to face their future headlong. They have shown a confident approach to a career that does not guarantee instant fame and fortunate.
The four spoke openly about their art, what inspires them and plans for the future.
Pattani-born Kufosiyah Nibuesa, with exhibits titled Border Peace and Lifestyle In Transition, said being an artist has been a lifelong desire. She is not under any illusions about a fast track to fame. Kufosiyah's ultimate goal is to have a solo exhibition in the next two years.
"It is a long road ahead for all of us," said the 25-year-old. "We are prepared to weather whatever comes along. I am passionate about what I do. My artwork involves people, I love to watch people.
"Being observant has helped me create a realistic depiction of the daily activities of people in my community. My handiwork, infused with natural colours to create a realistic portrait, includes a middle-aged woman selling vegetables at an open-air market and an elderly woman being driven in a rickshaw by a Muslim man."
Arichama Pakapet, 23, also from Pattani, has had a few joint exhibitions with fellow artists in her home province. She hopes coming to Bangkok will be a turning point in her career. Since graduating from university one-and-a-half years ago, she has been working on her art work at home, while helping out with her family's fishery business.
Her giant exhibit Truth Of Life, made from fishing nets and a large water hyacinth, is based on her upbringing in a fishing community. Her creation focuses on the mixed emotions women experience as they navigate their life. She attempts to showcase the struggles of facing one's demons through the use of natural colours and locally sourced materials she has sewn together herself.
Speaking about her exhibit, Yala-born Heedayah Mahavi said that the inspiration behind the portraits of three elderly women came from the strong women in her family. The 23-year-old named her creation Feelings.
"My mother has been my biggest inspiration, she has taught me the virtue of patience. This I believe goes a long way when one opts to become an artist.
"The biggest influence on an artist are the people closest to them. My mother is my role model in all aspects, so this exhibit is dedicated to her," said Heedayah.
The eldest in the family, her sketches show a fierce determination to succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. Her complete devotion to her artwork is documented in the depth of her creations.
Artist Kufosiyah Nibuesa's eye-catching creation combines a flair for locally-sourced natural colours with an assortment of different-textured scrap paper to create this depiction of everyday life at a local market.
Twenty-five-year-old Nuriya Waji, also from Pattani, is in tune with her emotions. Her creativity is a testament to that. Her batik creations showcase her emotional state at various moments in the day.
"I used myself as a model to show the audience how our emotions are influenced by the environment we happen to be in. The biggest obstacle I had was technical, finding the right balance in the water colours, and when to use gentle strokes and when not to."
Nuriya's exposure to studying for her master's in Bangkok has added a new dimension to work. After completing the degree, she hopes to get a shot at working with galleries in Japan and Europe.
Art to these young talents is more than a craft; it is a vehicle to dispel misconceptions society might harbour towards not just Thai Muslim women in general but those who reside in the restive southern provinces.
Kufosiyah had a couple of encounters recently that highlighted the biased attitudes people in Bangkok continue to foster towards Muslims from southern Thailand.
"I befriended an elderly lady at the Hua Lampong train station because she was lost. After a short chit-chat, she asked me where I was from. Upon hearing I'm from Pattani, she changed her countenance from friendly and polite to one that was just the opposite. She told me to stay far from her because she was afraid of me.
"I was shell-shocked -- it took me a while to connect the dots. My being from Pattani was disconcerting for her because she connected it with unrest, bombs, insurgency and terrorist activity."
Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident for Kufosiyah, as she went on to explain: "Just the other day I was taking a motorcycle taxi and the driver asked if I was carrying a bomb.
Nuriya Waji's work, left, and Heedayah Mahavi's work, right, has proven beyond doubt that with proper support they can reach great heights. Both young artists' work originates from introspection, passion and desire to tell their side of the story. Their work is multifaceted; tugging at one's heartstrings at one moment while on another addressing climate change by using recycled materials. Photos: Patipat Janthong
"As a Muslim woman, I feel I need to help erase people's misunderstanding of my faith. There is no need to be fearful of Muslims. I think people read too much into the news they read and watch. It is my desire to use my art to send the message to people around the country that there is still beauty left in Thailand's South. This inspires me to produce art that will showcase the beautiful culture and traditions that still can be experienced in my province."
Nuriya asked: "Just how much does our society understand the Thai Muslim woman?" She then added that she does not divide her allegiance between country and religion.
"I grew up in Pattani having both Muslim and Buddhist neighbours as friends. I found that my Muslim friends and I knew more about Buddhist culture than my Buddhist friends knew about mine. So I believe prejudice stems from ignorance.
"My greatest desire is to see Thais of all faiths befriending one another so they can know more about the other person's culture and traditions."
