How oxen, cows and buffaloes are an important motif in Malaysian art


Anthony Lau's 'Wild Bull' (stone and cement dust, 1962), picture foreground, with Ahmad Zakii Anuar's 'Daging 2' (bitumen on canvas, 2009), seen at the 'Negaraku' exhibition at the National Art Gallery in KL in 2017. Photo: Filepic

The Year of the Metal Ox is here, and there has been a barrage of imagery, reflecting and celebrating this mighty beast, the second of the 12-year periodic sequence (cycle) of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac.

Instead of taking the festive route, let's detour with some artworks - featuring the ox to kerbau - by Malaysian artists through the years. The art galleries might be closed now because of the pandemic, but that is no reason to forget local art.

Play, subscribe and stand a chance to win prizes worth over RM39,000! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Culture

A reimagined 'Cats' on Broadway features a special cat from the old school
Exiled cartoonists give voice to Iran's silenced millions
Tokyo Symphony, MPO reunite for a classical treat at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS
In Miami, footballs are turned into one-of-a-kind art as World Cup nears
National Symphony Orchestra to perform 'The Lion King' concert in KL this June
BM fiction piece shortlisted for 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Adibah Amin tribute night raises RM100,000, 'As I Was Passing' book reissued
Perak Man’s return to Lenggong has boosted tourism numbers
A painter reveals Hong Kong’s natural wonders�–�and where to see them
English choirs strive to preserve a tradition little changed since Elizabeth I

Others Also Read