Pengurip : ARTS, CULTURE & FOOD OF THE TELANG USAN’S KAYAN

The importance and preservation of knowledge of the Kayan community have gained increasing recognition. They are rich in the diversity and uniqueness of their language, customs, culture, and cuisine. Cultural objects such as beads, traditional bags, and tattoos as well as Kayan folk art and culture such as tekna', folk tales and local music, are among the lesser-known in modern society. Doh Kayan Telang Usan as an independent organization with a particular focus on the socio-economic and holistic development of Telang Usan Kayan women has strived to unite the arts, heritage, and culture as well as several traditional cuisines from 24 Kayan communities from Telang Usan, Baram, Miri, Sarawak. Through the collaboration with the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Doh Kayan Telang Usan has taken this initiative to document this knowledge and publish this book. Through the title of 'Pengurip' which means 'life' or 'way of life' in Telang Usan Kay an, this book can serve as a reference to the younger generation in getting to know the art, culture, and heritage of the Kayan people better

Pengurip : ARTS, CULTURE & FOOD OF THE TELANG USAN’S KAYAN

The importance and preservation of knowledge of the Kayan community have gained increasing recognition. They are rich in the diversity and uniqueness of their language, customs, culture, and cuisine. Cultural objects such as beads, traditional bags, and tattoos as well as Kayan folk art and culture such as tekna', folk tales and local music, are among the lesser-known in modern society. Doh Kayan Telang Usan as an independent organization with a particular focus on the socio-economic and holistic development of Telang Usan Kayan women has strived to unite the arts, heritage, and culture as well as several traditional cuisines from 24 Kayan communities from Telang Usan, Baram, Miri, Sarawak. Through the collaboration with the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Doh Kayan Telang Usan has taken this initiative to document this knowledge and publish this book. Through the title of 'Pengurip' which means 'life' or 'way of life' in Telang Usan Kay an, this book can serve as a reference to the younger generation in getting to know the art, culture, and heritage of the Kayan people better

DIGITIZATION OF TRADITIONAL BARIO SALT MAKING BASED ON INTERDISCIPLINARY AND VISUAL EXPERIENCE APPROACH

This article describes the process of digitizing traditional methods of Bario salt extraction based on documentation and experiences during a field trip to Pa'Umor, Bario, Sarawak. The process of making salt is described in an orderly manner, beginning with the extraction of the salt water, and ending with the packing process. Bario salt is extracted from a salt spring by boiling the brine in a large pot until the salt forms a gray layer, and then collecting the salt from the bottom. This process is still practiced today. However, the production of Bario salt is not widely known because it is a lengthy and laborious process. Moreover, the conventional methods of information transfer are no longer relevant to current technological developments. Therefore, through an interdisciplinary and visual experience approach, all images are recorded in a digital documentation using the latest digital tools and then analyzed through the art of formalism. The result is a short video production and digital interactive poster called ID-Poster that uses the augmented reality application. It is hoped that this article will provide new ideas and visual insights that can help in promoting rural tourism

Local Wisdom: A Reflection of Creativity & Innovation Through Usungan Practice in Sarawak Coastal Community

The Sarawak coastal community consists of several divisions, districts and villages such as Kabong, Pusa, Spaoh, Belawai, Beladin, Maludam, Dalat and many more. A research trip has been conducted from 19-25 November 2018 in Kabong to document a rare practice by the coastal community, The marching of the Usungan. The event was held to celebrate a large group of children who completed their studies in the Al-Quran recitals. It is unique practice or tradition and it is only existing in the Borneo Island. Especially, Sarawak coastal areas continue to maintain and preserve it. Through the very interesting design of the Usungan, the Malay people of Sarawak has proven to have created their creativity and innovation. It has been stated that this practice has existed for more than 100 years ago. It is a privilege for the students or children to celebrate and, to encourage the younger generation to be successful and it is a kind of positive reinforcement for them. The Usungan also reflects the local wisdom of the people in art and design. Among the designs are aircrafts, cars, houses, mosques, boats, flowers, fishes and so on. Every design has their own story that reflects every single student who requested it. However, this practice requires the support of various parties, especially from the government, to continue and preserve it. As time goes by, some cultural heritage will be lost if no preservation effort of this practice starts from today. There are no complete and proper documentation of the design of the Usungan or any similar practice for the next generation references. Through Usungan, it shows that community knowledge in art and design in ways that can benefit the community and pass on. The event was held to celebrate a large group of children who completed their studies in the Al-Quran recitals. It is a unique practice or tradition and it only exist in the Borneo Island. Especially, Sarawak coastal areas continue to maintain and preserve it. Through the very interesting design of the Usungan, the Malay people of Sarawak has proven to have created their creativity and innovation

Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model as a Conceptual Framework for Visual Research in Rural Tourism Sites: Batuh Narit Arur Bilit as a Case Study

This paper demonstrates the implementation of Kolb’s experiential learning model (ELM), a learner-centric learning method that often used in classrooms and organizational training as a method of research on the visual aspects of rock carving named Batuh Narit Arur Bilit in Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak. This study will highlight thoroughly on the visual research process of Batuh Narit Arur Bilit from acquiring to the interpretation of data to be suited into ELM. The research of visuals in culture is usually conducted in visual anthropology method, however, this practice is often time-consuming, and visuals only serve as a tool to document and describe, but not as a subject of research. The method involves a systematic, stage by stage process of recording visual images, observation, sense of touch, transferring images into digital format, and presenting the outcomes to the public. ELM does not just offer an organized method of collecting and analyzing data in a short period but has also contributed in establishing a dialogue between researchers and the public, especially the local community and thus benefit both parties. The versatility of ELM will hopefully benefit more visual researchers in conducting research within a short period as an alternative to visual anthropology method

Batuh Narit Arur Bilit of Pa’ Umor : A Visual Analysis onto a Carved Stone from the Megalithic Monuments of the Kelabit Highlands

This paper seeks to investigate on the Kelabit’s material culture based on a visual archaeological study of the megalithic stone, particularly the carved stone known as Batuh Narit Arur Bilit, from the district of Pa’ Umor in Bario, Sarawak, Malaysia. The primary focus of this paper is to advance knowledge within the practice, especially in visual art research, and how it can be used as digital content to promote eco-tourism in the rural area. Previously, there was a lack of techniques that can be used as an example of how visual art can be used to explore other disciplines such as anthropology. Thus, this study will highlight several issues pertaining to the visual documentation process of the megalith, notably on the relation of the symbol and drawing carved on the surface of the stone. By using empirical research, the biography of the monument will be explored via experiential learning and visual analysis, especially in considering our sensory with practical experience. These findings are the result of visual recording practices such as drawing, photography, and video as well as site observations, with the highlight of the discovery of the long-lost stone carvings. What started as an unintentional discovery has evolved into a rich visual study of the cultural narratives and has developed as an identity that also has a historical impact and cultural content for the eco-tourism sector in the Kelabit society

Community Based Tourism- The Attraction Of ‘Embhan’ Community In Kampung Semban, Sarawak.

Kampung Semban is a remote village and currently renowned for its Embhan community which is one of the sub-ethnic groups of Bidayuh in Sarawak. This community has been widely portrayed in the local tourism industry through the spectacular appearance of their last remaining ‘Ring Ladies’. These special ladies wore brass-rings around their calves called ‘rasung’, and brass-rings around the forearms known as ‘ruyang’. However, based on research, the researcher found out that there are more than just the ‘Ring Ladies’ factor that draws visitors to Kampung Semban. This paper aims to describe the findings based on the researcher’s experience and observation relating to the additional attraction factors in Kampung Semban and propose it in promoting and boosting this industry further. The researcher anticipated that the potential of these findings could be employed as a proposal in enhancing the development of this competitive community-based tourism in BIMP-EAGA region particularly in Malaysia. To conclude, it is hope that this writings could also be utilized as part of the contribution towards enriching the visual references and records pertaining to the existing community-based tourism in Kampung Semban

Organising Visual Information Of Traditional Ornaments Adorned By Embhan’s Ring Ladies

This article aims to discuss an alternative system to organize information in the context of visual ethnography study particularly on the documentation of diminishing traditional ornaments worn by the remaining Ring Ladies of Embhan Community, the only community in Sarawak who still practice this culture. The system was developed based on problems faced by the researcher when visual and data collected during the investigation has difficulty with storage due to the lack of a systematic compilation method. Thus, it is challenging for the researcher to identify or retrieve the information, especially relating to visual data on the cultural objects. Through visual ethnography method, visual information related to cultural objects of Bidayuh Embhan particularly with the Ring Ladies was collected and analyzed. Hence, an alternative system in organizing visual information relating to the cultural object called, Digital Ethnographic Organizer (e-Divo) was created using Adobe InDesign and published in a Flash format. It is hoped that this system can be developed further as an information seeking tool that can be used in the context of cultural objects and ethnography exhibition, especially in the galleries or museums

Organising Visual Information Of Traditional Ornaments Adorned By Embhan’s Ring Ladies

This article aims to discuss an alternative system to organize information in the context of visual ethnography study particularly on the documentation of diminishing traditional ornaments worn by the remaining Ring Ladies of Embhan Community, the only community in Sarawak who still practice this culture. The system was developed based on problems faced by the researcher when visual and data collected during the investigation has difficulty with storage due to the lack of a systematic compilation method. Thus, it is challenging for the researcher to identify or retrieve the information, especially relating to visual data on the cultural objects. Through visual ethnography method, visual information related to cultural objects of Bidayuh Embhan particularly with the Ring Ladies was collected and analyzed. Hence, an alternative system in organizing visual information relating to the cultural object called, Digital Ethnographic Organizer (eDivo) was created using Adobe InDesign and published in a Flash format. It is hoped that this system can be developed further as an information seeking tool that can be used in the context of cultural objects and ethnography exhibition, especially in the galleries or museums