IN THE NIGHT GLIDING LAND
Leong Yoke Mee (Ammi)
MALAYSIA
2021 PARDICOLOR Creative Arts Fund gantee. Special theme: ‘Art of Darkness’.
The detail with which Ammi documented her project ‘In the Night Gliding Land’ allows us to join her on a journey of discovery across the Strait of Malacca to the Island of Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah, located in the Andaman sea in northwestern Malaysia. The mission: to find, illustrate and share the story of the Sunda colugo; a nocturnal, arboreal gliding mammal native to Southeast Asia.
1.
Into the field;
we join Ammi alongside Dr Priscilla Miard and Mae Chuah from the Night Spotting Project as they navigate the tropical archipelago of Langkawi by plane, boat and motorcycle. Dodging leeches whilst scouring coconut trees bathed in the red light of torches and catching quick field sketches at the roadside.
“1st Night walk at Skaii coconut farm with red light headlamp, wearing sandal end up 2 leeches. Spotted 4 nos Sunda Colugo, 1 hang at tree trunk and grooming, 2 at cashew tree truck moving up down look for leaf shot to eat, 1 high up coconut tree.” - Ammi [FIELD NOTES]
2.
Back in the studio;
we see the first flush of colour in Ammi’s illustrations and her storyboard come to life with the secrets of this illusive species.
When I visited an event about primates, I discovered a nocturnal arboreal gliding mammal called the Sunda colugo that is native to my country. I notice that colugo species are still considered Least Concern in term of extinction risk on the IUCN Red List. And the fact is most people (90%) don't know about this animal locally. - Ammi
3.
The final storybook:
comic illustrations come together in a storybook which explores the relationship of the Sunda colugo with nature and environmental development. Through this storybook Ammi hopes to share an appreciation for wildlife conservation by connecting the audience with the uniqueness and special behaviour of this precious animal.
Through comics, I can well explain and express the story of this animal. Using images is a good tool to break the language barriers. Surely it will be beneficial to the community by getting more understanding and appreciation of our local nature. - Ammi
