KUCHING: The Applied and Creative Arts Faculty (FSGK) of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) launched an art exhibition entitled “Usungan: A Presentation of Innovation and Artistic Creation in Bonded Community, Kabong” at Saradise Gallery, Brighton Square here on Friday.
The exhibition is the result of a field study conducted in the coastal town of Kabong.
It features a 10-foot long “usungan” as well as an extensive collection of art pieces and sketches put together by the eight participating artists.
“Usungan” refers to the processions carried out to celebrate the children who have completed their studies in Al-Quran recitals and the palanquins used during the processions.
The practice, common during the year-end school holidays, is unique to the village of Kabong. Furthermore, most of the “usungan” are discarded after the events, resulting in a lack of documentation and awareness among the general public.
The organising chairman and exhibition curator Mohamad Faizuan Mat said he was inspired to conduct the research as it concerned an obscure and dying local tradition.
The exhibition is sponsored by Saradise Gallery and will be held at the gallery from Feb 15 until Mar 19.
Saradise Gallery is a venue that features creative works of Sarawakians and a platform for creating awareness and promoting the appreciation of local arts and culture among the public.
The event was officiated at by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Also present were Saradise group chief executive officer Datuk Chris Chung, Kabong assemblyman Mohd Chee Kadir and FSGK dean Prof Madya Dr Musdi Shanat.
