Istilah ‘Orang Asli’ diperkenalkan dalam Bahasa Melayu pada tahun 1950an untuk merujuk kepada beberapa kelompok kecil manusia khususnya yang mendiami kawasan pedalaman dan pinggiran di Semenanjung Malaysia. Barang kali unsur-unsur misteri dan kekaburan dihubungkait dengan kewujudan dan asal usul Orang Asli serta aspek magis dan ritual yang terkenal di kalangan mereka, maka Orang Asli sering dianggap sebagai manusia ‘primitif’.

Realitinya, pandangan ini tidak tepat sama sekali. Dari segi teknologi moden mereka mungkin ketinggalan dan miskin namun dari segi sudut seni budaya yang telah wujud sejak berkurun lamanya, terdapat ciri-ciri kehidupan yang unik, saling membantu antara satu sama lain dan intim dengan alam semulajadi.

Masyarakat Orang Asli hidup dengan selesa di kawasan pedalaman tanpa bergantung secara mutlak kepada perdagangan dengan dunia luar dan pada masa yang sama boleh mempertahankan cara hidup dan budaya mereka. Masyarakat ini tidak menghadapi masalah kesihatan yang ketara dan hidup bebas dari pengaruh dan mainan politik yang terpaksa dilalui oleh masyarakat lain.

Jumlah penduduk Orang Asli ialah 149,723 orang (sumber dari Buku Data Maklumat Asas, Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli Malaysia, terbitan tahun 2004) yang terbahagi kepada 18 suku bangsa dan bahasa. Sebahagian besar bahasa tersebut diklasifikasikan sebagai bahasa Mon-Khmer. Orang Asli terbahagi kepada tiga kumpulan bangsa utama yang mempunyai ciri-ciri khusus iaitu Bangsa Negrito, Bangsa Senoi dan Bangsa Melayu Proto. Sejak beberapa abad yang lalu kadar percampuran dan interaksi antara ketiga-tiga kumpulan bangsa Orang Asli adalah begitu luas sama ada melalui perdagangan, perkahwinan atau dalam kontek akibat pelaksanaan projek-projek pembangunan di kawasan pedalaman.

Sebagai contoh, Bangsa Negrito hanya berkahwin dengan bangsa mereka dari lembah yang lain, tetapi dewasa ini cara sedemikian bukan lagi menjadi pegangan hidup mereka atau sesuatu yang perlu ditaati. Corak hidup mereka kini lebih bebas dan mereka lebih suka memilih pasangan hidup sendiri. Orang Asli sekarang boleh berkahwin dengan mana-mana bangsa Orang Asli serta bangsa-bangsa lain.

Jesteru itu penggunaan istilah ‘primitif’, ‘mundur’ atau mempunyai nilai-nilai negatif sudah lapuk dan tidak digunakan lagi. Ini kerana sudah ada diantara mereka yang menuntut di pusat-pusat pengajian tinggi dan telah berjaya di dalam bidang perniagaan serta bekerja sebagai eksekutif dalam sektor awam dan swasta.

Sejak berakhirnya perang dunia kedua, Orang Asli memainkan peranan utama dalam politik iaitu membenteras ideologi dan gerakan bersenjata komunis. Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli telah ditubuhkan oleh Pentadbir Inggeris sebaik sahaja perang tamat bertujuan untuk mengawasi keselamatan negara ini. Keadaan demikian membuka lembaran baru di dalam kehidupan Orang Asli iaitu zaman pertembungan ideologi asing yang pada ketika itu amat sukar sekali difahami dan apatah lagi untuk diterima oleh mereka.

Namun begitu, Orang Asli telah dapat menyesuaikan diri mereka dengan setiap perubahan dan suasana baru disamping dapat mempertahankan keunikan nilai hidup mereka daripada dicemari oleh gejala-gejala asing. Dalam menghadapi unsur-unsur luar dan cabaran hidup masa depan, telah menyedari kepentingan untuk mengekalkan indentiti mereka dalam konteks masyarakat Malaysia.

Walaupun banyak unsur kebudayaan Orang Asli telah hilang di telan zaman namun masih terdapat unsur-unsur seni yang boleh dikaji dan diketengahkan. Apa sebenarnya wujud disebalik natijah dan penghasilan seni dan budaya Orang Asli? Pameran yang diadakan ini sebenarnya bertujuan memberikan sebahagian jawapan kepada keseluruhan persoalan ini.

The term ‘Orang Asli’ was introduced to the Malay language in the ‘1950’s refers to the various peoples living in small groups in the Malay Peninsula, especially in the land or the jungle fringes. They are considered ‘primitive’ because of the elements of mystery and obscurity associated with their presence and origin cupled with the aspects of magic and ritual.

When closely examined this is a fallacy. They may be behind in modern technology and poor but their art and culture are centuries old and are characterized by a life that is unique. Interpendent and in harmony with nature.

The are comfortable living in the hinterland without having to depend on trade with the outside world and the same time are able to preserve their livestyle and culture. They do not have health problem which other people have to face. They live free from influence of politics, which the modern society has to deal with.

The population of Orang Asli stands at 149,723 (source from Buku Data Maklumat Asas, Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli, terbitan 2004) consisting of 18 ethnic groups. They are Negritos, Senoi and Proto Malays, each charactized by its own uniqueness. But such a classification today is not accurate and is of no significance. Over the centuries there have been via trade. Marriage of contact as a result of rural development.

Negritos will only marry Negritos from other village but nowdays this is not a way of live anymore nor is at a thing that must be adhered to. They practise a more independent lifestyle and prefer to choose their own life partners. Now they can marry any other Orang Asli from other groups. Many of them marry Chinese and some of them marry Malays. In view of this they cannot be divided into groups anymore as their representation is question able. New infoemation acquired through the implementation of development programmers have changes their lifestyle and placed them on a new perspective.

Thus, the terms ‘primitive’, ‘backward’ or ‘having negative values’ and ‘anti development’ do not applied anymore. Today, there are quite a number of them studying in centers of higher learning. They are others who are successful in the business field and are executives in the government and private sector.

Since the end of the Second World War, Orang Asli have played an important role in politics i.e. to combat communist ideology and its military. The Department Of Aboriginal Affairs (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli) which was established by the British Administration as soon as the war ended aims at supervising the Country’s Security. Thus began a new life for the Orang Asli with the introduction of foreign ideologies, with they found difficult to understand, much less to compromise.

Being intelligent people with the capacity to think, the Orang Asli have adapted well to change and the new enviroment for the benefit of their people, whilst able to maintain their lifestyle from outside influence.

In the face of influences and future challenges the Orang Asli are aware that they would have to preserve their own identity within the context of Malaysian Society. Many amongst are relizing the need to preserve their unique traditions, art, music and other aspects of their culture.

Although much of the elements in their culture have been lost and forgotten through the years, there are still enough left behind to study and promote. As a tradition, it is best to study these elements in order to understand the underlying aspects of its creation and practice.

What lies behind the spirit and creativity of Orang Asli art and culture? The exhibition aims at answering some questions of this nature.