Shaq Koyok

Ancient Protectors, 2025;

Acrylic on Canvas

Shaq Koyok is a Malaysian contemporary artist and activist of the indigenous Temuan tribe. Raised in Selangor, his art is deeply informed by his life in the rainforest and the challenges faced by the Orang Asli community, such as deforestation and land rights issues. Koyok, who often incorporates traditional materials like woven pandanus mats into his work, uses his art as a powerful form of advocacy.

He has gained international recognition for his paintings and installations, which highlight themes of cultural preservation and environmental protection. In 2017, he became the first Orang Asli to receive the prestigious Merdeka Award Grant.

“Ancient Protectors refer to the symbiotic relationship between the trees and the local Temuan indigenous people.

This painting is inspired by the local indigenous Temuan community, who are traditional owners of the land, and they saved the peat forest from the developer back in 2020; in return, the forest itself protects humans from biodiversity collapse and also climate change.

Malaysia has more than 50 % forest cover on Malaysian peninsula, and also in some areas in East Malaysia (Borneo). This forest is home to innumerable species of biodiversity, which include flora and fauna that are crucial in climate mitigation. The forest is also part of the living ecosystem in the indigenous community in Malaysia. Many of the species of plants are used in the indigenous community as medicine, food, as well as for their traditional ceremony to celebrate the ancestors’ spirits.

This is a plein-air painting and was painted in the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, Selangor, Malaysia. The Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve is an ancient peat forest, and they are home to some endemic species of plants and animals. One of them is the Meranti Bunga tree, the Selangor Pygmy Flying Squirrel and the Langat Betta Livida fish (fighting fish).”

Climate change is having a profound impact on Malaysia’s Orang Asli communities, who depend closely on forests, rivers, and traditional farming for survival. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts are reducing crop yields and making food and clean water scarce. Intense flooding and landslides, now more frequent due to deforestation and heavier monsoon rains, destroy homes and contaminate water sources. Changing forest ecosystems are also threatening traditional livelihoods such as hunting, gathering, and small-scale agriculture. As forests decline and weather patterns shift, the Orang Asli face growing challenges to their health, culture, and autonomy, highlighting the deep inequalities in climate vulnerability.