X-Raying to the Inside with Kompang

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I am not entirely sure when or where I got the idea to make the kompang. Perhaps it came from a desire to create an artwork that connects with my childhood. Growing up, music played a significant role in my life, and my father, a ghazal singer, surely influenced this love from an early age. Music has always been a companion, moving with me through the eras of transistor radios, Walkmans, cassette players, record albums, CDs, and now Spotify.

In my artwork X-ray Kompang, I merge this personal connection to music with a fascination for X-ray films. X-rays have always captivated me—their ability to reveal the unseen within us is both scientific and poetic. By replacing the traditional skin of the kompang, a Malaysian drum, with X-ray films, I transform the instrument into a bridge between sound and introspection. The X-ray, a tool that reveals what lies beneath the surface, becomes a powerful metaphor for identity—what exists beyond nationality, beyond external appearances, beyond the visible.

This project has also encouraged me to reconnect with family and old friends. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised how precious it is to nurture these relationships. The X-rays used in this work come exclusively from my close circle, making the piece deeply personal. Each X-ray carries a unique story, evoking memories of shared experiences and ties to my roots.

Through X-ray Kompang, I invite viewers to reflect—not just on the visible and invisible within themselves, but also on the relationships and memories that shape who we are. 

This work explores the ways in which movement—of people, of sound —shapes our understanding of who we are. The process is one of adaptation and dialogue, where materials carry histories, and objects are repurposed to tell new stories. I do not impose conclusions but rather invites engagement, reflection, and participation. In Rhythm of Identity, identity is neither fixed nor singular; it is a rhythm, an echo, an evolving composition.