Page 100 - The Guide To Sarawak

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THE ARTS
This UNESCO award-winning design for EO Gallery uses the Melanau sun hat or terendak as its main motif.
Rumah Garie longhouse, Sungai Kain, Kapit District. Her team of 50 women
is the only group of Iban Pua-Kumbu (warp-ikat) weavers to use silk yarn with natural dyes, assisted by local designer Edric Ong. Their textiles are much sought after by collectors, museums and galleries world-wide, and are in the collections of UNESCO in Paris, the National Gallery, amongst Royalty, and in collections in Sweden, Paris, Switzerland, Britain, India, Japan and elsewhere.
Catherine Senia uses
Iban bemban (Donax
spp.) woven basketry in ladies’ bags of all shapes and sizes at her workshop at Kraftangan Malaysia, Sarawak. Former Kraftangan
Traditional Arts - A New Contemporary Style
A new dynamism has been introduced to traditional Sarawak arts thanks to
the initiatives of modern designers, who are working with traditional craftspeople to create home and fashion accessories to suit a contemporary lifestyle.
For example, the embroidered Raung reed and palm hats from the Ba’Kelalan Highlands
have been marketed internationally, and
earned an award from UNESCO. A number of Bidayuh communities
are transforming their basketry skills to produce contemporary home décor. Local designer Edric Ong has received many awards for his work in silk with Iban Pua-Kumbu weavers,
and also for his natural dye hand-painted batiks. Leading fashion designer Dato’ Tom
Abang Saufi uses Sarawak motifs
and materials in
her ‘heritage with
a twist’ couture collections.
Several hotels
have also used
local designs in
their interiors and
staff uniforms,
providing a truly Sarawakian
ambiance for
their guests.
Traditional Arts - Master Artists & Craftspeople Bangie ak. Embol is the leader
of the weaving community in
Master weaver and UNESCO prize winner Bangie anak Embol at work on another pua kumbu mas- terpiece.