The Orang Besar Series: Fluid World, 2010
I-Lann Yee’s artist statement/ bio states that she is concerned on the issues with shifting world powers when it comes to neocolonialism and colonialism especially in Southeast Asia. In this particular photograph, she inkjet print with dye to illustrate the map of East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, parts of the Middle East and Africa, mainly landmasses that are near the sea. According to her artwork and background living in Malaysia, a country with a rich maritime history, she feels a deep connection between the people on land and the sea. The abstract background that kind of resembles fog or clouds on the sea that make objects blurry, probably was the view of the indigenous people on the land in how they viewed foreigners or people who eventually came across the sea to become their colonizers. What came before and who came afterwards seems like a theme in this photo along with the boarders that was created and maintained to this day. While the opening of boarders and further exchange of ideas and culture had very positive impacts, it is those that control and have the power to restrain and restrict that led to misfortunes for the powerless.