Contemporary art exhibition goes 3D

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Maddocks describes ‘Dalam’ as ‘an innovative and contemporary exhibition, exploring themes of identity, crafts and the inner world’. — Photo by Martin Bong

ARTS enthusiasts, especially those who are very much into the works of artists from Borneo, can now enjoy them in an exhibition set amidst a virtual setting.

‘Dalam’, a previously physical exhibition featuring 14 contemporary artists and collectives from Malaysia, Brunei, Kalimantan (Indonesia), Australia and the United Kingdom, is now presented as an interactive 3D online tour, allowing new audiences to experience it in a more different and interesting way.

Launched by local social enterprise and cultural initiative Catama, the online exhibition mirrors the physical event held in Kuching last December.

The name ‘dalam’, meaning ‘in’ in Malay, reflects the exploration of themes of ‘the other, the interior, the seen and unseen’, alongside the intersection between cultural and craft practices and creative expressions.

Now widely known for featuring many works that have never been exhibited, it is now a permanent interactive online display.

“Dalam is quite an innovative and contemporary exhibition, exploring themes of identity, crafts and the inner world; the ‘dalam’ and the ‘alam (realm) that we have created, expressed through audio-visual storytelling, craft installations, sculptures, textile arts, photography and spatial documentation.

“The exhibition was really one of the first of its kind in Kuching, bringing together and profiling a really diverse selection of young, contemporary artists who were experimenting with new mediums to express themselves.

“We’re really excited to now be able to use technology to present this to audiences who could not physically visit the exhibition, and give it a permanent home online,” says Catama creative director and the exhibition curator Catriona Maddocks.

Maddocks explaining one of the artworks to the visitors during the exhibition tour. — Photo by Martin Bong

Diversity in exhibits

Among the featured exhibits is a 4m tall installation made from 100 woven mats created by the Iban artisans of Rumah Perdu at Ulu Spak in Betong. It stands alongside the sculptures and photographs by West Kalimantan artists Zakaria Pangaribuan and Hardiyanti that explore indigenous traditions, beliefs and contemporary lives.

Photo shows the Iban weavers of Rumah Perdu in Betong, whose ‘tikar’ (mats) form the basis of a 4m tall installation entitled ‘Tikar Banjir’ (Cascading Mats), one of many exhibits featured in ‘Dalam’. — Photo by Martin Bong

Additionally, there are several audio-visual pieces presented in the forms of videos, sound installations and projections, by Harold Reagan Eswar @ EGN, Tiyan Baker and Borneo Bengkel.

There are also some textile works showcased by Bethany Balan, Elroy Ramantan, Iona Danald and Leopold Garett Jawan.

Sculptures by Anyshya Jusam, an installation by Armanzaki Azrs and printworks by Sharon Chin are also on display.

The exhibition is supported by Yayasan Hasanah’s Arts For All Seasons (ArtsFAS 2022) under its annual grant, which has enabled it to be turned into a permanent virtual programme. Additional support for research and development of the artworks has been provided by the British Council, Cendana and Krishen Jit Fund.

Zainariah Johari, who is head of Yayasan Hasanah’s Arts, Culture and Public Spaces, remarks: “By proudly supporting innovative platforms like Catama, Yayasan Hasanah continues to grow ArtsFAS as not just a grant initiative, but also a dynamic platform to showcase Malaysia’s preserved and conserved arts, heritage, and culture. It allows us to educate the younger generation and the larger community through technology, while making arts accessible for all.

“In line with Yayasan Hasanah’s vision for a more inclusive, progressive Malaysia; ArtsFAS 2022 has supported over 100 arts showcases in nearly all Malaysian states and we’re thrilled to celebrate more artists in Sabah and Sarawak.”

Crew members setting up the ‘Tikar Banjir’ installation. — Photo by Martin Bong

Empowering local creative community

The virtual exhibition is powered by Amogha Tech Sdn Bhd, a Kuching-based technology solution company specialising in the application of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), drone technology and 3D mapping.

Managing director Ashweein Narayana says they have been working with venues and organisations throughout Sarawak to create virtual spaces and explore the capacity of technology.

“This is the first creative exhibition that we have documented and we are honoured to be able to technologically empower our local creative community, and create a permanent virtual exhibition so locals and non-Sarawakains can see what the talents of our state have to offer.”

The exhibition’s launch was hosted digitally by HAUS KCH, a creative hub based in Kuching, as part of its ‘Seni Kita’ (Our Arts) initiative.

Syed Rusydie Syed Habib, the programme coordinator for Seni Kita, says it is truly an honour to have presented the diverse and talented ensemble of creatives featured in ‘Dalam’.

“Having started entirely local, the trajectory of Seni Kita programme — thanks to this strategic and enthusiastic partnership with Catama Borneo — is looking hopeful as one of Kuching’s many arts-platforms that could introduce more intercultural dialogues between borders.”

Syed Rusydie, who is one of the three HAUS KCH directors, adds: “We hope in earnest that more local entities in the creative industry would have the courage to take a step in this direction — HAUS is ready to help where we can.”

Photographer Hardiyanti (left) in a photo-call with cultural practitioner Lidia Sumbum, who is from Sungai Utik in Kalimantan. — Photo by Martin Bong

Presented by Catama and Borneo Bengkel, the virtual exhibition can be accessed via www.catamaborneo.com/dalam.

Catama also has presence on Facebook and Instagram – look for @catamaborneo.

Organisations working as one

Based in Sarawak, Catama is a social enterprise working with rural and urban communities and indigenous artisans to document and bring innovation to traditional crafts and cultural practices, as well as explore contemporary approaches to Borneo’s unique heritage.

Its focus is on presenting the stories, voices and creative expressions of artists, craftmakers and cultural practitioners from all across Borneo, and sharing this knowledge with new audiences.

Borneo Bengkel is a creative platform that explores issues of Bornean identity and culture through the eyes of craftmakers, artists, social activists, academicians and performers.

Local sculptor Anyshya with her artwork ‘Tanduk’ (Horns). — Photo by Martin Bong

The Malay word ‘bengkel’ translates as ‘workshop’, and it is in this spirit of knowledge-sharing that Borneo Bengkel has produced a series of creative residencies, public talks, forums, workshops, arts markets and cultural performances over the past four years.

Since 2021, Borneo Bengkel has gone beyond Bornean borders to create international dialogues slated for cross-community exchanges, skill-sharing and interdisciplinary dialogues.

HAUS KCH is a creative hub operating out of a four-storey facility in Kuching. Since its founding in 2016, it has been advocating and facilitating the empowerment of grassroots creative individuals and entities through space- and programme-based collaborations.

Many of the artworks in the exhibition take inspiration from Borneo’s cultural heritage. — Photo by Martin Bong

The hub is led by artists-cum-directors Syed Rusydie, Ashweein and Sonia Luhong, whose vision is to work with local place-makers and act as ‘a democratic conduit for the creative community’ but at the same time, they want to contribute to the local policy-making dialogues in the creative industry in a rapidly-burgeoning Sarawak.

Seni Kita, currently led by HAUS KCH, was borne out of a collective desire to foster active collaborations between Kuching’s space providers and amplify the city’s vibrant arts scene through its shared resources.

By energising Kuching’s creative scene through diverse inter-space collaborations, Seni Kita is meant to promote a more sustainable, communal approach in space-based arts organising and boost Kuching’s position as a major, vibrant arts destination.

The ArtsFAS is a part of a larger effort by Yayasan Hasanah to preserve and celebrate Malaysian arts, heritage and culture. It was launched in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic that had greatly affected arts practitioners.

Supporting various shows, screenings, theatre productions, workshops, exhibitions, festivals and place-making activities, ArtsFAS also aims to educate the community and expose them to a broader arts movement.

Widely known for featuring many works that have never been exhibited, ‘Dalam’ has now been turned into a permanent interactive online display. — Photo by Martin Bong