History Unravelled

Sarawak-born textile artist Marcos Kueh weaves the Southeast Asian perspective on post-colonial narratives and explores what it means to be Sarawakian

- Koyyi Chin

To say that revising the legacy of post-colonialism in Southeast Asia is herculean would be the understatement of the century. From infrastructures and cultures to national identities, colonialism is a global issue with centuries of complexities. “Growing up in Sarawak, our history textbooks only had one chapter that covered both Sabah and Sarawak. I thought it was weird at the time,” says award-winning textile artist Marcos Kueh, whose exhibition, titled Kenyalang Circus (“Kenyalang” meaning “hornbill” in Malay), was held earlier this year in January at The Back Room Gallery. “It made me wonder about what it means to be Sarawakian, and how post-colonial narratives have shaped Southeast Asia’s identities. My latest project was about how I can convey those narratives and start an introspective discourse through textiles.”

Awarded the Ron Mandos Young Blood prize for emerging artists in 2022, Kueh’s textile art has been exhibited across the globe, from the Museum Voorlinden, the Stedelijk Museum, the Galerie Ron Mandos in Amsterdam, to the Osaka International Art Fair. The 28-year-old artist is a rising star in the art scene for his contemplative works, and for good reason.