Orang Laut mantras and South-east Asian monsters

A mantra-inspired show took place at a rare late-night offering, while three young writers traded insights about monsters in another panel

- Clement Yong

Legs splayed wide, the face of a snarling tiger – half orange, half white – on his shirt, Fransiskus Tintin calmly told those present that he was responsible for all living things on land, under the sea and in the spirit realm in his tribe.

The setting of The Arts House on Nov 10 was incongruous with the Northern Bintan Orang Laut leader's spiritual proclamations. Yet a moment ago, Tintin had watched as fourth-generation Orang Laut descendant Firdaus Sani and artist and researcher Zarina Muhammad enacted a mantra-inspired performance in the space, their faces obscured by seahorse and sunbird masks.

It was an out-of-this-world experience, said Tintin, whose community practises such traditions only in secluded spaces.

"There's a responsibility when activating those energies," he said in Bahasa Indonesia, his words interpreted by moderator Courtney Saville. "We do it where people won't use them the wrong way or where people can do their own energetic work so they are not affected."