In his time, many considered him provocative: after all, one of the most (in)famous stories involving him purports that he urinated at an art exhibition in an act of criticism.
Homage is now paid to this prominent figure of the local literary landscape in “Salleh Ben Joned: Truth, Beauty, Amok and Belonging”, a book that shines a spotlight on the man’s prose, poetry, and relationships.
This 240-page tome – which contains over 170 images, many never seen before – is the brainchild of Salleh’s eldest daughter, Sydney-based journalist and singer Anna Salleh. Published by Maya Press, this half memoir, half collection of selected works features a cover illustration of the poet by cartoonist Lat.
According to Anna, the book came about after she completed a two-part podcast for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about the ups and downs of her father’s life.
“It was very personal, but there wasn’t much room to discuss his work,” she recalled. “It aired in 2020, about a month before he died. And there was an outpouring of tributes for him, so much that he would never have imagined.
“That, and the fact that his books were out of print, made my family and I realise we needed something that focused on his work and brought it to a new generation.”
Their initial idea was a special edition of his first book of poetry, “Salleh Ben Joned: Poems Sacred and Profane”. It, however, had previously been reprinted by a local publisher.
“It was clear what we were working on needed to be above and beyond that. So, for our book, we added more pictures, and a greater focus on the relationships Salleh had had with key figures in the literary and arts scenes.
“It’s not a biography in the strictest sense; rather, it focuses on the people and events that shaped his literary journey.”
Readers can expect sections that illuminate Salleh’s bond with names such as Latiff Mohidin, Usman Awang, Syed Alwi, Jo Kukathas, and the American poet Robert Creeley.
“I was constantly surprised at how many different groups of people Salleh had had contact with and exchanged ideas, from different generations,” Anna noted.
The book also contains several never-before published poems; excerpts from his honours thesis while studying at the University of Tasmania; parts of his 2011 play script “The Amok of Mat Solo”; and several essays, including “Salacious Pleasures of Pantuns” and “Rojak is Good for Nation-Building”.
Anna is happy that many young poets, who never got to meet Salleh in person, are now able to discover and embrace his unorthodox art style.
“His work was always undervalued by the establishment,” she said. “But it seems now that a lot of younger voices are now finding resonances in his writing. Many are fans because they like the challenges he poses.
“Salleh was always an explorer of ideas. I think he would be so pleased to find his work is still provoking exploration of themes such as identity and what it is to be Malaysian.”
The book was officially launched at Penang’s Georgetown Literary Festival in November, followed by the Cult Gallery in Kuala Lumpur this month. The latter event was attended by luminaries such as Antares Maitreya, Kee Thuan Chye, Sabera Shaik, Sharon Chin, Ramli Ibrahim, Jack Malik, and Malachi Edwin Vethamani, who shared their stories of Salleh and read his works.
“Like it or not, Salleh Ben Joned was a totally unique character in the history of the Malaysian literary arts scene,” his daughter concluded. “The book really gives you an insight into so many dimensions of his worldview.
“Hopefully it will stimulate your appetite to explore more, read more, and do more daring things; live more and – as he liked to say – seize the day.”
‘Salleh Ben Joned: Truth, Beauty, Amok and Belonging’ can be purchased here. For more info, visit Anna Salleh’s website, or contact her at at [email protected].