By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 1: A backdrop at Kuching International Airport (KIA) featuring what renowned local artist Gerald Goh says appears to be predominantly Indonesian ikat motifs has sparked questions over how Sarawak’s cultural identity is being presented to visitors.
Goh said the backdrop appeared to feature “98 per cent” Indonesian ikat motifs, with only a small element resembling Sarawak’s traditional Pua Kumbu weaving tucked into a corner.
He questioned why a key visual feature at Sarawak’s international gateway would draw so heavily on Indonesian weaving imagery when the State has its own distinctive traditional designs and cultural heritage.
“For years, we seem to have been fighting the wrong Hornbills and the wrong interpretation of our Sarawak traditional weaving. When will we get it right?” he said in a post shared on his social media on Monday (28).