A story behind every steel-art sculpture

MOHAMAD Syanizi Ariff feels an overwhelming sense of fulfilment every time he gazes at his latest sculpture.

For the 20-year-old artist, completing a piece is more than just an artistic achievement, as it is a manifestation of dreams, effort, and the shared journey with his father.

“Whenever I finish a sculpture, there’s a feeling of satisfaction that’s hard to describe,” says the youth.

“It’s as if I’m witnessing all my ideas and hard work come together into something that others can also feel. It’s even more special knowing that it’s a piece of my connection with my dad.”

From a humble welding shop

The story of Kasat Arca, a family business, began in 2016 as an unassuming welding shop.

Back then, Syanizi’s father Mohamad Kasat Bujang Narawi, 46, was focused on welding gates, but the unexpected victory in the ‘Rural Business Challenge’s Entrepreneur’ category became a turning point.

That category was among many being run in connection with the Government Transformation Plan (GTP 2.0) 2016 Programme, under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

“That win changed everything,” Syanizi recalls.

“We realised the potential of turning discarded metal into something meaningful. It was the spark that we needed to evolve into sculpting.

“For us, every piece of metal has its own story.”

The father-son duo’s unique approach is inspired by a steampunk aesthetic, blending mechanical elements with artistic expressions.

“Our style isn’t just about putting random pieces of metal together.

“We call it ‘redesigning materials’ – it’s about giving old parts a new purpose and life.”

A turning point

Kasat Arca’s artworks, since then, had garnered some attention, but it was in 2023 when their creations truly gained momentum.

Participation in various expos, especially the National Crafts Day 2023, had exposed them to a global audience.

“After that expo, people from different parts of the world started noticing our work,” Syanizi recalls.

“It was beyond what we expected, and it gave us so much motivation to keep pushing forward.”

Creating each sculpture is an intricate and deliberate process for Syanizi. It starts with a vision, whether from a client’s request, or from his own imagination.

“We usually sketch the piece first, just to get a sense of how it might look,” he says.

“Then comes the tough part, finding the right metal and cleaning it.”

Such work requires an arsenal of tools, including gas-fired welders, plasma cutters and grinders, to transform rough scrap metal pieces into graceful forms.

“Working with steel can be a struggle sometimes, especially when it comes to the finer details.

“But every challenge makes the final piece that much more rewarding,” says Syanizi.

Kenyalang, Keris and Sape

Depending on complexity, Syanizi’s projects vary in duration. Small sculptures like the ‘Kenyalang’ (hornbill), which can measure up to two feet (60cm) in height, may take one to two weeks, while larger pieces like the 10-foot to 12-foot (300cm-365vm) ‘Keris’ (traditional Malay dagger with wavy blade), would require months to complete.

For the ‘Kenyalang’ sculpture, he uses parts like sprockets, spark plugs, springs, clutch covers, and a mix of other vehicle components and metal pieces.

For the ‘Keris’, it merges traditional aesthetics with modern innovation. Crafted using recycled metal, it is now proudly displayed at Rumah Sarawak in Kuching.

Syanizi says the creation has involved a dedicated team of five members: himself and his father, together with skilled craftsmen Mohamad Hadi Abang, Abdul Rabbulhakim Wahab, and Khairol Jobni.

The sculpture was based on the idea of Dayang Mariana Abang Bolhasan, the chief executive officer of Sarawak Arts Council (MSS).

The sculpture was made in collaboration with the young participants from local villages who completed the Metal Sculpture Welding Art Course, as well as students from Sekolah Seni Malaysia Sarawak, during a ‘Keris Sculpture Workshop’ held in July this year.

Syanizi says one of his favourite creations is the large ‘Sape’ (traditional boat lute of the Orang Ulu) – a project that kicked off in October last year, and took over a year to reach completion.

“That piece is special to me because it represents our ambition. It was initially meant to be a contender for the ‘Largest Sape Sculpture in the World’ entry.”

In this regard, he says his side is still in the process of entering it into the record books.

“To build this sculpture, we collected recycled materials from auto workshops around Kuching and Asajaya,” he adds.

Emotional impact

Beyond the physical work, however, Syanizi finds immense joy in the emotional impact that his art has on others.

“Seeing people appreciate the artwork brings me so much happiness,” he says with a smile.

“There’s a powerful feeling in knowing that something I created can touch someone’s heart.

“Art has this way of connecting people, and it feels amazing to be a part of that.”

Syanizi also hopes that each sculpture could instil in anyone viewing it a sense of strength and resilience.

“I want people to feel something when they look at our work – to feel hope, to see beauty in things others have discarded,” says this youth, currently undertaking Business and Economics studies at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).

“Originally, I was studying Civil Engineering but shifting to something closer to my interests just made sense.

“I have taught myself some additional skills in graphics design, website development, and marketing to support the family’s creative venture, Kasat Arca.”

Syanizi hails his father as the backbone of Kasat Arca, providing steady guidance, while Syanizi brings a youthful energy that keeps them pushing boundaries.

“Dad is the foundation of everything we do,” he says proudly.

“I’m here to bring a fresh perspective and help us grow even further.”

Guiding principles

Reflecting on his journey, Syanizi attributes his success to three guiding principles: passion, patience, and faith.

“Allah has given me the strength and endurance through each challenge.

“I believe Allah is ‘The Best Planner’, and I pray that He continues to bless my path so I can use my success to help others.”

Looking ahead, Syanizi says his goals stretch beyond Malaysia – he dreams of bringing his sculptures to an international audience.

“I want our work to reach people around the world.”

For Syanizi, every sculpture represents their hearts, hard work, and also hopes.

In his hands, the steel does not just tell stories; it inspires them.

“Each piece carries part of our journey, and I hope that through our art, people can find their own stories,” says the young man.