ZARIF ISMAIL

Elders of Our Forest: Elders of Our Forest is a multi-media project that uses visual arts, and interactive modes of presentation to explore human relationships with the rainforest across Southeast Asia. Elders of Our Forest is currently working towards expanding its expertise in photography and VR to cover stories of indigenous people in other parts of Southeast Asia by working with other VR content producers
Mahen Bala (founder of Elders of Our Forest): Mahen Bala is a visual artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is primarily interested in documenting marginal voices as a method in exploring new narratives in Southeast Asia’s fluid osmosis of history and identity. In 2018, he published ‘Postcards from the South’, a documentation of memory and history of the Malaysian railways. His 2019 work cēb bah hēp documenting the relationship between the Batek indigenous people and the rainforest in Malaysia was exhibited at the Botanic Gardens in Singapore. He recently completed a fellowship with the Japan Foundation Asia Center, with a focus on railway heritage in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Zarif Ismail (Co-founder of Elders of Our Forest): Zarif Ismail is a Communications practitioner and a writer with 7 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. In 2018, he co-founded Elders of Our Forest with Mahen Bala.

Facebook: facebook.com/elders.of.our.forest
Instagram: instagram.com/elders.of.our.forest/
Website: eldersofourforest.com