KUCHING: The ‘Borneo Symphony’ art show here features 63 artworks from 50 artists.
The Sarawak Artists Society (SAS) which is celebrating its 38th anniversary introduced the ‘Borneo Symphony’ art show to provide a platform for artists to showcase their work, share their insight and inspire the community to embrace the power of art.
As visitors walk into the exhibition, they would be met by an extravagant display of colours and beautiful intricate artworks of Borneo.
At the event, New Sarawak Tribune interviewed Muyang Kumundan, 65, whose experience as an artist spans nearly two decades.
His painting caught the eye of many visitors at the exhibition due to his distinctive depiction of Borneo.
“This painting of mine is very close to the theme of ‘Borneo Symphony’, we have a proboscis monkey, the birds (which are) singing. This monkey only exists in Borneo, nowhere else in the world,” he said.
As Borneo consists of Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan Indonesia he has included the national flower of Brunei Darussalam, the mascot of Sabah, the hornbill which represents Sarawak and an eagle which is the national bird of Indonesia.
He revealed the painting took him more than 60 hours to complete.
“Well, I’m a rainforest man, I was born in a rainforest so it’s very easy for me … the rainforest is already in my blood,” Muyang added.
Muyang who hails from Balai Ringin, has painted over a few hundred pieces throughout his 20 years.
Today, a full time artist, he paints ‘anything rainforest’ and his painting at the exhibition is being sold for about RM11,000.
Another painter whose artwork was displayed at the exhibition, was Lucas Lau, who hails from Bintangor but has been living in Kuching for more than 30 years.
Lau, who works as a civil engineer picked up painting during the Covid-19 pandemic as he has loved art since young.
Lau’s stark blue painting, with the popular Puteri Santubong, Puteri Sejinjang and Putera Serapi also caught the eyes of visitors.
“I hike to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Matang every week. So after months and months of hiking there. I started to gather stories around Gunung Matang.
“I like Puteri Santubong and Puteri Sejinjang and that they fell in love with Putera Serapi,” he said.
He explains that his painting includes historic elements of Sarawak from the White Rajah’s era, the Second World War during the Japanese Occupation in 1941 up to Malaysia’s formation in 1963.
Lau also included historical details like an elephant statue and historical stories during the time of the second White Rajah, Charles Brooke.
When asked how long it took him to do the painting, he said he began in July and took 100 hours to complete it.
The Sarawak Artists Society (SAS) will be hosting workshops, demo, talks and art forums at The Spring, here from Nov 10 to Nov 26.
