KUCHING: A vibrant art and cultural showcase, ‘Seni Kita: The Worlds We Weave’, will take centre stage at the Sarawak State Library from Dec 13 to 15, running daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
Organised by HAUS KCH in collaboration with Balai Seni Negara, Wordsmiths of Kuching, Goethe-Institut KL, Obscura Festival of Photography, and the Orang Ulu Chamber of Commerce Institute (OUCCI), the event promises a rich line-up of art exhibitions, weaving demonstrations, literary workshops, artisan markets, curated film screenings, and multi-disciplinary performances.
Among the highlights is HONG!, a nine-metre-tall visual art installation featuring 77 intricately woven hong (Orang Ulu sun hats) crafted by Sungai Asap weavers.
This evolving exhibit, which launches today, explores the effects of climate change and will expand over three months to include photography, talks, and a digital archive of longhouse communities in Sungai Asap.
Another standout feature is the return of the world’s longest rattan mat, a Guinness World Record holder since 2016, produced by Peng Doh Belaga. The iconic mat will serve as seating for performances during the festival.
Festival director and HONG! curator Syed Rusydie stressed the event’s environmental message.
“The message for climate change is clear: — something must be done if we want our children to thrive in liveable, prosperous environments,” he said.
“Having the collective trust of the Sungai Asap weavers — who face their own climate challenges — and the Goethe-Institut’s Science Film Festival on board with the message allows us to tell stories from not often-heard perspectives which we hope will inspire people to make environmentally-conscious decisions.”
The Goethe-Institut’s 2024 Science Film Festival will delve into contemporary scientific, technological, and environmental issues through a diverse selection of international films and educational activities.
On top of the cinematic flair, the WatchMoviesNot Film Festival (WMNFF) from Sibu will feature Sarawak Shorts, a curated programme spotlighting Sarawakian filmmakers, including directors, producers, cinematographers, and writers.
Balai Seni Negara’s Manifestasi Dua Seni programme will feature two collaborative performances with Wordsmiths of Kuching — Word of Mouth: Tukang Kata, a spoken word open mic on Saturday, Dec 14, at 4.30 pm, and Tiga Seni, Beratus Hati, a multidisciplinary showcase of interpretive dance, visual art, and poetry by local talents.
Workshops cater to a range of interests, from yoga and weaving to skateboarding and writing. For art enthusiasts, Dirty Art Studio will host a splash art workshop, while the Kamboh segment, in collaboration with the Sarawak Drum Community, will close the festival with a dynamic drum circle on Dec 15.
The Pasar Seni Kita artisan market will host 70 local vendors offering art prints, fashion, wellness products, mental health resources, and an array of food and beverages.
The community-driven festival is free and expects to draw approximately 2,000 visitors daily, with most attendees hailing from Petra Jaya.
For more information, visit https://linktree.com/hauskch, or follow Seni Kita’s Instagram profiles at @hauskch and @senikitakch. Inquiries can be sent to senikitakch@gmail.com.
