Local handicrafts recognised by Unesco/ World Crafts Council
KUCHING: Seven types of handicrafts from Sarawak have been awarded the prestigious Unesco/ World Crafts Council Award of Excellence 2016.
The seven award-winning handicrafts are Sarawak ‘Kabo’ ( bead necklace) by Livan Handicrafts; Sarawak ‘ Livan’ ( bead necklace) by Livan Handcrafts; bamboo pattern baskets by Bengkel Pembuatan Beg; Penan ‘Ajat’ sling bag by Barefoot Mercy; Tanoti ‘Sampin’ in Shimmery Gold featuring traditional Malay motifs by Tanoti Sdn Bhd; Rattan Coil Platters by Long Lamai Community by Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas); and Indigo ‘Pua Kumbu’ silk ‘ikat’ stole by Nancy Ngali.
Society Atelier Sarawak ( The Arts and Crafts Society of Sarawak Malaysia) president Edric Ong revealed this achievement at a press conference here yesterday.
HesaidtheUnesco/WorldCrafts Council Award of Excellence 2016 programme was held in Kuwait last September and was granted to 118 submissions from a total of 246 entries from the Asia Pacific Region from six sub-regions juried by an international panel of 11 experts.
“The award programme aimed to encourage artisans to produce handicrafts that use traditional skills, patterns and themes in an innovative way, to ensure the continuity and sustainability of these traditions and skills so as to set quality standards.
“Also, (it is) to raise international awareness and strengthen the promotional potential for handicraft products to enable them to compete in the global market and automatically increase the welfare of the craftsmen,” Ong said.
He pointed out the range of submissions was highly diverse, including traditionally woven textiles, embroidery, natural fibres, ceramics, wood carvings and inlay, metal work, stone carvings and other materials.
The Honorary Advisor to World Crafts Council Asia Pacific also said the jury of international experts observed and judged the submissions through four key criteria of excellence, authenticity, innovation and marketability— all essential attributes for outstanding craft creation with two pre-conditions: awareness and respect for the environment and social responsibility.
He congratulated all the award winners who have made Malaysia proud as the Sarawak craft entries were the only ones from Malaysia to have attained the ‘Excellence’ mark.
He hoped that more crafts from Sarawak and Malaysia will be submitted in 2018. All the awardwinning crafts will be exhibited at the National Museum of Kuwait.
Also present was the society’s advisor Datin Dayang Mariani Abang Zain.