Nuansa Seni 6.0 honours heritage artisans
KUCHING (July 21): Sustainability was the highlight of the 'Nuansa Seni Vol 6.0', staged at Hotel Waterfront here on Sunday night.
The programme, themed 'Two Eras, One Soul', showcased collections by local designers – both seasoned and emerging – that incorporated Sarawak's traditional heritage arts such as 'keringkam' (Sarawak Malay's embroidered scarf), songket and batik, as well as other fine crafts.
'There's no new without the old. We honour all those who give patterns to this industry, which now welcomes new, young troops who bring along with them modern elements.
'However, as indicated by this programme's name, the changes should be 'nuanced' – meaning they are not drastic to a point that they pollute and destroy this art.
'That's the essence of our theme: 'two eras, one soul'. It reflects the ecosystem that we are advocating under the 'Nuansa Seni' concept.
'The sustainability message is also evident in the connection of those involved in this arts and heritage industry; between the practitioners, the consumers, and the environment,' said programme director Dr Sharifah Suzana Wan Shukran in her opening remarks.
Models wear various styles of 'keringkam' from a collection that involves a collaboration of local teachers of this traditional textile art.
On the start-up of Nuansa Seni, she said it began as an online programme during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic five years ago.
'Our first feature was an online fashion show.
'Now, we have reached the sixth edition. That said, this accomplishment also brings with it very high expectations in upholding our creations of the past and the future.
'Without disregarding the age-old arts and culture, we can construct the Sarawak identity through contemporary practices.
'This, to a degree, is a form of information exchange,' she added.
Sharifah Suzana also spoke about a group of embroiderers whom she brought to a Nuansa Seni programme in Sibu last year.
'They brought along a few pieces of 'selayah' (smaller 'keringkam').
'Since then, that small group has sold more than 50 pieces.
'Many of you here would know that a 'selayah' can fetch a price of RM3,000, so you can calculate it – they now achieve a sales value of over RM150,000.
'So this is what we're trying to do,' she pointed out.
Many of the menswear collections featured in Nuansa Seni 6.0 represent a fusion of tradition and modern influences.
Apart from a showcase of tradition-embedded couture and series of cultural stage performances, Nuansa Seni 6.0 also honoured a number of local arts and heritage activists.
They are 'tikar bergerang' (traditional mat made from pandan leaves) grandmaster Ngot Bi; 'keringkam' experts Siti Sadiah Abang Nor Salleh, Mastura Sidek dan Noraini Zaidan; songket weavers Dayang Maslamah Abang Nor Salleh, Saanah Suhaili and Ramtiniwaiti Ramlee; traditional Sarawak Malay wedding make-up and style artist Kazuliah Mohammad Taufek; Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE) chairperson Datu Dr Sabariah Putit; authority on Sarawak Malay arts, heritage and culture Sabri Nor; Sarawak Malay traditional couture specialist Danny Zulkifli; heritage advisor Datu Dr Rashidah Bolhassan; 'keringkam' arts activist Amirul Shazli Yusof; and traditional Sarawak embroidery and stitching arts expert Norlizawati Sane.
The dignitaries present were Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, together with deputy minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan and permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Husaini; Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; and Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, Malaysia Agreement 1963 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
M'sian studio's debut game explores the eternal goodbye through a child's eyes
If you could go back in time and see that person you loved again, what would you do? What would you say to them? Everything good must come to an end, and all love ends with grief. We've all dealt with loss in our lives, making the central premise of Once Again universally relatable. The young protagonist of this short but sweet visual novel is a boy named Sia, whose mother has passed away. On his 10th birthday, he awakens from a nap to discover a birthday cake in his room. Making a wish, he finds himself mysteriously transported to the past. There, he miraculously encounters his mother as a younger woman, who teaches him to develop photographs. Sia's mother teaches him about photography, and he in turn develops an equally strong interest in the craft. The story is mainly expressed through short sentences, all told from the point of view of the main protagonist Sia. From then on, on each of his birthdays, the boy is transported to the past, reuniting with his departed mother for one precious day each year. The pain of farewell Once Again is the debut game from Malaysian developers RB Wolf Games, and was conceived by producer Yee Weng Hong during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. Yee, 36, comes from an advertising background, and this was his first foray into a purely creative project. 'That was a time when I realised how fragile life is,' he says. 'The game's story is also based on a real-life story. One of the main characters is inspired by one of my relatives, a woman who dreamed of becoming a mother, but unfortunately passed away two months after giving birth due to a heart condition called PPCM.' (Also known as peripartum cardiomyopathy, the American Heart Association explains it as an uncommon form of heart failure which can happen during or after pregnancy, when no other cause of heart failure can be found.) 'This story had always been in my mind, and during Covid, I thought I could try to make a video game.' His mind made up, Yee set up RB Wolf Games and managed to win a grant from MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation) which really helped the fledgling company during the developmental stage. The melancholic colours and composition of Once Again informs the player of the sentimental tone of this quiet tale of goodbyes and second chances. Throughout the course of the game, Sia repeatedly travels to the past, spending time with his mother, who is revealed to have a strong interest in photography. She teaches Sia about her passion, and he too develops an equally strong interest in the craft. 'I love photography,' Yee says. 'I think it's a beautiful way to freeze time, and turn moments into lasting memories. I think in the game, photography helps to tell the story of the differing perspectives of mother and son.' Artistic influences 'I think the biggest influence on my game was actually music,' Yee shares. 'A lot of inspiration for the story, visuals, and soundtrack came from lo-fi music. It was more about capturing the vibe.' If you have spent any time on YouTube listening to lo-fi music, perhaps that would have conjured up a certain aesthetic. Manga-style, hand drawn character art, combined with soft pastel clouds draped over the sunset. Yee would often play instrumental lo-fi or Ryuichi Sakomoto's piano music while working on the visuals and art direction to infuse his work with the intended feelings. 'Instrumental music only,' Yee says. 'If there's a person singing lyrics it might distract me.' Other than music, the indie game Florence, developed by Mountains and published by Annapurna Interactive was a big influence. Yee says, 'It inspired us in developing the interactive aspect of the game. Interaction is very important because you need it for the player to truly immerse themselves in the story.' Once Again is Yee's first time telling a narrative story. — YEE WENG HONG The gameplay in Once Again, like Florence, is understated and simple. For example, some sequences task the player with adjusting the exposure and focus on a camera to take beautiful shots of the landscape or Sia's mother, much like Florence's gameplay loop of touching certain areas of the screen to perform mundane tasks or convey interactions with the main character's loved ones. Once Again is the first work of fiction Yee has created. 'It was a big personal challenge,' Yee remarked. 'I don't come from a writing background, I worked in advertising. I'm an art person. This is my first full narrative story. It was quite fun!' The text in Once Again is minimalist, unconcerned with using fancy words, instead trusting to the emotions the simple dialogue and narration evokes. The gorgeous visuals combines with the beautiful music to create a truly sentimental and timeless atmosphere, putting one in mind of the idle holidays of one's youth. A chance to say goodbye Yee emphasises the importance of closure in his game. In life, there are a lot of continuous or unresolved experiences, or experiences that are 'commas', as Yee describes. 'When you are able to say goodbye properly, it turns those commas into full stops, full sentences. You need to be able to properly say goodbye to everything, not just people, but memories, relationships, and different phases of your life. The core of this game is exploring the meaning of farewell. How we face it and learn to let go. 'Cherish the moment and appreciate every chance you get to meet the people you love. I hope that's something players can take away from their journey in Once Again.' Indeed, the protagonist Sia has the chance to do something that many people never get to do: say goodbye on his own terms. Photography serves as a gameplay mechanic and vehicle to express the point of view of the characters. — RB Wolf Games As a newcomer to the gaming industry, Yee and his company RB Wolf Games met with their share of challenges. He had no contacts or experience. 'When we started out I watched a lot of case studies, joined some game festivals, and learned from others in the industry,' Yee says. 'I met many developers and producers and they shared their experience.' Yee and his team of four to five people, mostly freelancers, gave their all to make their vision a reality. He employed Chinese and English writers to help finetune and translate his manuscripts as he had no writing experience. The positive response this game has received is a source of motivation for Yee and his team to keep going. 'Sometimes I still receive thank you messages from players,' Yee says. 'It means a lot to us. It has become a strong foundation for us to build something even better in the future.' RB Wolf Games is working on their second project now, with an even bigger scale and emotional story. 'We just kickstarted it this year, so there's nothing much we can show at the moment. I just completed the script end of last year, and now we're working on art direction and characters. One of the many idyllic yet bittersweet panoramas in the game. 'We also plan to enhance the gameplay and make it more engaging, we're in the process of trial and error with the gameplay mechanics. We're trying to get the gameplay rhythm to match the story and make sure the player won't feel bored. Hopefully we will have more to show people early next year.' Once Again is available on Steam for RM11.50, as well as on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store and Nintendo eShop for US$5.99 (RM25).
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Technician Brandon Baki wins Mr Body Fitness Gedong 2025, first win after 7-year hiatus
Brandon (right) and Abdul Fikry pose for the camera after the prize presentation. GEDONG (July 27): Electricity technician Brandon Baki edged out the competition at Mr Body Fitness Gedong 2025, held as part of the annual Gedong Festival activities. The 31-year-old Bidayuh from Bau District beat 12 other musclemen to win the Under-170cm class of the competition, staged at the Datuk Patinggi Ali Hall here. His entry here marked a comeback from a seven-year competitive hiatus. 'My last competition was in Mr Kenyalang 2017 in Sibu. After that, I had to focus on my work. 'A couple of years after that, I did plan to return to the bodybuilding circuit, but Covid-19 struck in 2020. 'So, it feels great to come back, and win! Now, I am very looking forward to joining Mr Kuching championships next month,' said Brandon via WhatsApp. The runners-up of his category were fellow Sarawakians: Mohamad Firdaus Mohamad Sazali, Asdilah Asmat Sefri, Suhardi Sulaiman and Daubline Timbol. Meanwhile, the Body Fitness Above-170cm class was won by a Sabahan, Abdul Fikry Gapare. The Tawau-born Air Force corporal edged out the competition from nine other contestants. Others in the Top 5 of this category were Mohd Bayazin Bistami Iswandy, Mohd Nasriq Tambi, Mohd Al Badrul Abu, and Mohamad Nurhafizi Nasir. The body fitness competition was jointly organised by Gedong District Office and Samarahan Youth and Sports Office, as well as Buda Gym Kota Samarahan. Attracting 23 contestants, it was among the highlights of three-day Gedong Festival 2025, which ends today. lead Mr Body Fitness Gedong 2025
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Borneo Post
Air Supply concert in Kuching to boost Sarawak' music tourism
Abdul Karim, flanked by Ting (third right) and Snowdan, joins (from left) Samuel, Sherrina, Deborah, and Hii in a photo-call, taken after the launch. — Photo by Henrietta Liza KUCHING (July 25): The upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of legendary soft rock duo, 'Air Supply', set for September, marks another milestone in Sarawak's growing prominence as a premier destination for international live events. Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, in officially launching the concert today, highlighted its potential of attracting regional visitors and contributing to the state's tourism economy. 'There will be many who will be coming in, not just from Kuching, but also from Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and from Peninsular Malaysia,' he said during the launch at The Spring Mall here. Organised by Twig Events Sdn Bhd, the concert is set to be staged at the Sarawak Blessed Church (SBC) Hall here, this Sept 24, with the curtain-raiser at 8pm. Abdul Karim also noted that increased air connectivity, including the launch of the Pontianak to Kuching route on Sept 12 and existing daily flights from Jakarta and Singapore, should help drive international attendance. He further emphasised the wider economic ripple effects, benefitting Sarawak's hospitality and tourism sectors, and thus, he called for the development of more suitable concert venues across the state. The minister also expressed hope that the state government would invest in larger hosting venues, especially in view of the ongoing construction of the new Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) 2. 'The existing BCCK can only accommodate a 5,000-strong crowd, but the new venue will be able to accommodate almost 10,000 people. Once completed, it will attract even bigger acts,' he said. Twig Events Sdn Bhd director Deborah Tai, meanwhile, said the concerts would be a special experience for Malaysian fans. 'Air Supply has a timeless appeal across all age groups. 'In their 50th anniversary tour, we saw the opportunity to bring something iconic and emotional to Sarawak – a once-in-a-lifetime chance for fans to experience them performing live.' Following Air Supply's concert, Mandapop star Ding Dang is scheduled to perform at Stadium Perpaduan here this Oct 11. 'It's really exciting to see so many artistes showing interest in performing in this beautiful state called Sarawak,' said Deborah. Tickets for both concerts are available for purchase at The Spring Mall, until tomorrow (July 27), with the sales being conducted at the Starbucks entrance between 10am and 10pm daily. Also present at the press conference were the deputy ministers Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Datuk Sebastian Ting; the ministry's permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini; deputy state secretary Datu Hii Chang Kee, and Twig Events director Samuel Tai. Air Supply concert Kuching lead tourism
