The grave Raja Haji Fisabilillah. Born in 1727, Raja Haji Fisabilillah was appointed as Engku Kelana at 19 years old and was in charge of managing the government and maintaining the security of the Lingga-Riau Sultanate. He was known to be an effective leader and is revered as a local Bugis hero. Raja Haji Fisabilillah passed away on June 18, 1784, during an attack on the Dutch maritime base in Teluk Kepatang, Malacca. Before his body was finally laid to rest in Pulau Penyengat (Penyengat Island), he was buried at Teluk Kepatang, Malacca.
In 2000, artist and academic Gilles Massot's focus turned to research with the 2003 book “Bintan, the phoenix of the Malay Archipelago”. Our collective archive features a selection from Gilles Massot's photography slides archive of Riau Islands taken between 2000-2003, which were made during the course of his research.
PDF of his book is available online: https://www.academia.edu/43507986/Bintan_Phoenix_Of_The_Malay_Archipelago
Rows of keramat (graves) are seen arranged on the grounds of Penyengat. The keramats are wrapped in yellow/white cloth; this act of wrapping the gravestones with cloth holds many spiritual implications, primarily to signify the sacredness of the graves.
Two young boys can be seen sitting atop the keramat of Raja Haji Fisabillilah (posthumous title for martyr), a local Bugis hero, located on top of the eastern hill of Penyengat. Buried alongside the grave of a revered Muslim scholar, Habib Syah, this particular set of keramat (graves) is sheltered under a hut-like structure, surrounded by more rows of graves arranged on the grounds of Penyengat.
Ubah Rumah is an art residency and archive inspired by stories of our region.
