This painting shows a Mak Yong Dancer in a dance pose showing the intricate hand gestures seen in Mak Yong. Mak Yong is a traditional form of drama-dance theatre originating from the ancient Malay-Thai cultures which has roots in animist and Hindu Buddhist belief. The stories performed during the dance were derived from the Kelantan Pattani mythology that are believed to be lost elsewhere. In 2005, UNESCO declared Mak Yong as one the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. Today, there are only a handful Mak Yong troupes in Malaysia. Abdullah Ibrahim’s passion for capturing Kelantanese local culture and life extends to Mak Yong. He painted a series of Mak Yong paintings depicting the dancers and the poses in a Mak Yong dance. Abdullah Ibrahim’s artistic career spans over three decades mostly focusing on Kelantanese culture through a Realistic Figurative Art approach and a tack of Photorealism genre. His work blends painting and drawing into a visual entity with soft yet detailed combination of acrylic and oil media. His painting often documents the custom and lives of the locals. His artworks are in numerous public and private collections including Kelantan State Art Gallery, Terengganu Museum of Art and Hotel Perdana, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.