Village Grocer X Nelson Lip's Christmas Illustration
Hey there, I wanted to share some thoughts about this Christmas illustration I created. First off, I'm grateful that The Food Purveyor invited me to collaborate with their festive limited-edition bag this year. While Christmas usually makes people think of snowy landscapes, tall evergreen trees, and cozy firesides, the holidays here in Malaysia have a different but equally magical feel.
Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year ever since I was a kid. Growing up in the warm sunshine, I always associated Christmas with all the amazing plants and animals native to our land, especially in Sabah where I spent a lot of my childhood.
This year, I took inspiration from the rich ecosystems around Malaysia to create a picture that captures the unique beauty of a local Christmas celebration. You won't find snow or reindeer in this drawing - instead, it's full of life from our rainforests. In the middle is a Kadazan Dusun boy playing a traditional instrument called a ‘Sompoton’, which you often hear during happy occasions. The melody spreads cheerful vibes to all the creatures around him.
Surrounding the boy are some iconic Sabah wildlife, like the majestic hornbill, Wallace's flying frog, a monkey balancing a pangolin on its head, a sun bear, and even a crocodile down in the water below the branch. Even though it's usually hot and sunny during Malaysian Christmas, this artwork celebrates our rich culture and natural heritage that make our holidays so special. It reminds us that no matter where we are, the spirit of Christmas can be found in the communities and nature all around us.
