Master’s thesis
Locked
Locked
Colonial Influences on Malay Manuscripts: Investigating the Winstedt Collection
Interested in reading my thesis? Please reach out to me.
Request access ↗Independent researcher · Writer · Entrepreneur
Curiosity across cultures, histories and worlds.
I work across manuscript research, cultural writing, art and international trade — exploring how ideas, objects and people move between places, and how those encounters shape the stories we tell.
A practice across research & exchange
SOAS, University of LondonMA Comparative Literature
Nusantara ↔ EuropeResearch focus
Paris · London · 30 countriesLived and travelled
01 / About
A practice shaped by
different worlds.
Based between Malaysia and an international network of collaborators, I bring together academic research, writing, art and business.
I am interested in the ways history travels — through manuscripts, collections, art, language and trade.
I am an independent researcher and writer with a background in Comparative Literature and manuscript studies. I completed my Master’s degree at SOAS, University of London, after a BA in English Literature at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
My work moves between the humanities and practical collaboration. Alongside research into Malay manuscripts and colonial collections, I write about history, culture, literature, philosophy and art. I am also interested in tech development, machine learning and large language models, and in how they can support humanities research. I also work in art and antiquities trading and develop cross-border commercial relationships connecting people, products and markets in Europe and Asia.
I have lived in Paris and London and travelled to around 30 countries, most of them solo. That has made me resourceful and adaptable, and it has given me a real understanding of cultural backgrounds other than my own. I value work that brings different perspectives into conversation — carefully, openly and across disciplines.
Start a conversation ↗02 / Research
Following the life
of manuscripts.
My research considers not only what manuscripts contain, but how they were collected, moved, interpreted and preserved.
Research interests include Malay manuscript studies, colonial archives, provenance, knowledge exchange and the history of collections. I am actively looking for a PhD supervisor and welcome international research collaborations.
PhD proposal
Locked
Locked
From Origins to Institutions
I’m looking for a supervisor interested in my research. To read my proposal, please reach out to me.
Request access ↗Wider interests
Archives, colonialism and cultural memory
How institutions shape the interpretation of cultural materials, and how histories of collecting influence contemporary questions of access, stewardship and repatriation.
Research in London, Berlin and Leiden
London
Research visit
Berlin
Research visit
Leiden
Research visit
03 / Experience
Research, relationships
and practical work.
A multidisciplinary background spanning academic study, teaching, art and antiquities trading, and international business development.
Academic & research
Master’s degree
SOAS, University of London
MA Comparative Literature, with interests in art history, world literature and manuscript studies. Dissertation focused on the Winstedt Collection of Malay manuscripts.
Undergraduate study
International Islamic University Malaysia
BA in English Literature, providing the foundation for later work across literature, history and culture.
Research community
Conferences & workshops
Participated in academic events and workshops, including events connected with Cambridge and Oxford, and engaged with wider Southeast Asian studies networks.
Writing & research
Independent researcher
Developing research on manuscript transmission, colonial collections and cultural histories; open to PhD supervision discussions and collaborative projects.
Professional experience
Current
Managing Director & Co-founder — Eurasia House Trading
Building a trading and representation house connecting European and Asian brands, producers, artists and buyers through sourcing, market development and partnerships.
Art & collecting
Art and Antiquities
Experience in art and antiquities trading, supporting the sourcing and presentation of artworks and antiquities, communicating with collectors and institutions, and coordinating viewings, sales and logistics.
Business development
Business Development Executive
Work involving international companies, relationship-building and opportunities for cross-border business development.
Education & hospitality
Teaching and client-facing roles
Experience in teaching history and art, academic writing support, and luxury retail and hospitality environments focused on service and client relationships.
04 / Areas of work
Different fields.
A shared curiosity.
My work is connected by an interest in cultural context, careful research and meaningful exchange.
01 — Research
Manuscripts & history
Malay manuscripts, colonial archives, provenance, collecting histories and the movement of knowledge across regions.
Explore research ↗02 — Art
Art & antiquities
Trading and connecting artworks, antiquities and cultural objects with collectors, galleries and institutions, with attention to context and provenance.
Discuss a piece ↗03 — Business
International trade
Developing relationships between European and Asian brands, suppliers, artists and buyers through sourcing and representation.
Explore a partnership ↗05 / Eurasia House Trading
Trade as a form
of exchange.
What I do on my side and in my free time.
Managing Director and co-founder of a cross-border trading and representation house.
Eurasia House Trading connects brands, producers and buyers across borders. We currently have partners in Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Indonesia and the UAE.
- Industry & safety
- Luxury & fragrance
- Hospitality & culture
- Food & specialty products
Interested in partnering with us and learning more? Visit our website.
Visit Eurasia House Trading ↗06 / Current interests
Learning, building
and connecting ideas.
Alongside my established work in research, writing and trade, I am exploring technology, including machine learning and large language models, and other practical skills and new ways to develop ideas into useful projects.
01 — Technology
Tech, machine learning & LLMs
Interested in tech development, machine learning and large language models. I’m learning to code and experimenting with digital tools to understand how websites, software and AI systems are built, and how they could support research, creative work and business.
02 — Growth
Business development
Developing skills in market research, partnerships, client relationships and commercial strategy, especially in projects that connect businesses and people across Europe and Asia.
03 — New ventures
Entrepreneurship & innovation
Exploring how ideas can become practical ventures — from international trade and representation to digital services, while learning how to build sustainable partnerships.
07 / Journal
Notes, essays
and ongoing questions.
Writing on the subjects that continue to hold my attention — from cultural history to literature and contemporary life.
History & culture
Reading the archive beyond its official story
Notes on collections, historical interpretation and the choices that shape what is preserved.
Literature & ideas
Books, language and the movement of ideas
Reflections on literature, philosophy and the ways texts travel between languages and worlds.
Art & society
Objects, memory and cultural meaning
Short essays and personal observations on art, material culture and the stories attached to objects.
I have a Substack where I post my writing, mainly on culture, history, literature, philosophy and the occasional personal opinion. Reflections on the past, the present, and everything in between.
Please do not copy or republish my work. If you’re interested in it, feel free to reach out to me.
Read on Substack ↗“The past is never simply behind us. It travels with objects, texts and the ways we choose to remember.”
Research · Writing · Exchange08 / Contact
Let’s find a point of connection.
I welcome conversations about PhD opportunities, research proposals, collaborative projects, art and antiquities trading, and business partnerships between Europe and Asia. I’m also into coding, LLMs, machine learning and tech development, so if you’re working in those areas, I’d love to hear from you.