#RMWF Art Exhibition 2018

September 08, 2018

#RMWF Art Exhibition 2018

This is a long overdue post that I am bringing forward for you to read. I attended the showcases organized by the Rainforest Fringe Festival in July, in which I was blown away and educated by the artistry and innovation of the minds of these talented Sarawakians. Do read and instil knowledge of the culture in Borneo. (Note: A video of the full tour will be up soon x)

The Old Courthouse

There were a couple of exhibitions located at the courthouse which opened across the entire Rainforest Fringe Festival (#RFF2018) period. Amongst them is Introduction to the White Range - Margaret of Sarawak, Forgotten Beauty, Borneo People - A Photographic Journey, Tattoos, and Sarawakia Malpighiales Wallacei. The featured art pieces and artefacts were well preserved. I had an eye-opening experience in understanding the history, diverse culture and talents of the people of Sarawak. As you can see the photo below displays the variety of tattoo designs represented by different ethnic groups of the Bumiputera in Sarawak.

An Introduction to the White Ranee - Margaret of Sarawak

The exhibit explored the remarkable life of Margaret De Windt, the wife of the Second Rajah of Sarawak, Charles Brooke. She was intelligent, courageous and full of energy. Margaret would notably be an advocate for women's rights and universal education. Ranee Margaret Brooke was the driving force behind her husband's reign with the Keringkam, to represent her cooperation and integration with the local women, one of the foundations of modern Sarawak's harmony and unity. She was the first significant Sarawak figure in the early history of Sarawak, undaunted to #pressforprogress as well as dismissing the confinement of gender roles during the time.

Borneo 744

Borneo 744 is an open space area with various sizes of buildings where organizers can rent an empty spot to hold multiple events. For this particular festival, the event organizers set up a huge food area with booths serving local delicacies. Each booth is decorated according to the representations of Sarawak building architecture. The sitting arrangements are positioned randomly with various shapes and sizes of antique furniture. I was stunned by the creativity of the entire layout.

Exhibit A: Forbidden Fruits
The first exhibition showcases the resemblance of local fruits through weaving. The indigenous women weavers had rainforests as their only resource. They create these beautifully woven crafts as their fruit of labour. However, their livelihood is threatened by developmental work. The art installation introduces these weavers as artisans. This project provides a fresh outlook on traditional weaving as modern art that everyone can appreciate.

Exhibit B: Design Showcase (Bamboo That Binds & Wood)
The items brought onto the table are the result of the partnership between designers from Thailand and Taiwan with local artisans. The combination of each skill allows innovation and creativity to be executed on a whole new level. Borneo Laboratory is their primary support in encouraging local artists and artisans to collaborate with those interested in International artists in innovating the Borneo aesthetic.