Mah Meri Mask Digital Preservation Via White Light Three-Dimensional (3D) Scanner in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper presents a process of capturing three-dimensional(3d) data using a coloured 3D scanner of the Mah Meri mask for a culture and heritage digital preservation effort. Mah Meri is among many indigenous people who reside in the peninsular of Malaysia. The mask of Mah Meri was once used in their ritual to cask out the sickness from the patient. Each mask has its name and story inspired by the shaman’s dream. Now, mask carving become one of their sources of income. Around the world, artefacts of culture and heritage are decaying due to human activities and mother nature. Mah Meri tribe also is not excluded from this gruesome threat. Being hampered by modernisation and deforestation, the number of carvers is declining, and the wood source is also disappearing. The effort of preserving the mask was conducted with the collaboration between the Digital Capture (Digicap) Research Group of Multimedia University and the Centre for Creative Content and Digital Innovation (3CDI) of University Malaya with the support of the Museum of Asian Art is one of many efforts to preserve this tangible culture and heritage artefact of Malaysia.