Malaysia’s monarchy charts a new course amid political flux

When Malaysian artist Darwisy Mustafani received a commission to paint the country’s king and queen, he did not reach for an ordinary canvas.

Instead, the 25-year-old from the northeastern city of Kota Bharu transformed songket – the lustrous handwoven fabric once reserved for Malay courts and ceremonial dress – into a portrait of the sultan and his wife before a golden-domed palace.

This is a short excerpt. EkJhalak links out rather than reproducing other newsrooms’ work — continue at South China Morning Post.