Usungan: The Presentation of Innovation and Artistic Creation in Bonded Community, Kabong

• Main Author: Mohamad Faizuan, bin Mat
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: HT Communities. Classes. Races; N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR; NB Sculpture; NC Drawing Design Illustration; ND Painting
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/24560/1/phmplet-01.jpg; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/24560/2/phmplet-02.jpg; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/24560/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

This exhibition is the outcomes of the study conducted on 21 - 25 November 2018 in Kabong, Sarawak regarding with a practice by Sarawak coastal community called Usungan. USUNGAN: The Presentation of Innovative and Artistic Creation in Bonded Community, Kabong is an exbihition of the colourful tradition of Usungan processions are a common feature during the year-end school holiday season in Sarawak coastal areas. Usungan refers to the beautifully sculptured carriages or palanquin in which the children are carried around the neighborhood with. The event was held to celebrate a large group of children who completed their studies in the Al- Quran recitals. It is unique practice or tradition and it is only existing in the Borneo Island. Especially, Sarawak coastal areas continue to maintain and preserve it. Through the very interesting design of the Usungan, the Malays people of Sarawak has proven to have created their creativity and innovation. The Usungan come in all kinds of subject-matter such as plane, helicopter, fish, birds, fruits, insects etc. The footages were taken in Kabong, the district that committed to keep the tradition alive. In Sarawak, the Usungan practice is an event that many people look forward to attending every year. The march of the Usungan is usually accompanied by a hadrah performance. The event was supported by Kabong assemblyman Mohd Chee Kadir who really love this practice and promises to keep this tradition alive. The purpose of having this kind of practice is to encourage the younger generation to be successful and it is a kind of positive reinforcement for them. Sarawak is not merely known to have diversity of races, but every race has its own distinctive tradition. It is a high time for Sarawak coastal communities are seen and highlight them through their creativity and innovation. It is a great pleasure and proud to have documented this valuable tradition. Exhibition Concept: The practice of Usungan is increasingly forgotten by the young generation, especially in urban area. And, this practice relies heavily on sponsorship from any party to keep the tradition alive. Therefore, through this kind of exhibition it can be highlight and documented for future reference. It has been our responsibility to maintain and preserve this tradition and cultural. The exhibition aims to highlight and promoting Usungan to public, to preserve the dying art & rare valuable tradition of Sarawak through visual documentation, to celebrate tradition and cultural awareness with public, to raise the awareness for local tradition, being presented through art exhibition, to raise the awareness for local tradition, being presented through art exhibition and to highlight an artwork that produce through in-depth study/research.