Menara Sarawak Energy to host showcase of Murum Penan handicrafts
KUCHING: A range of Murum Penan handicraft items featuring contemporary patterns and new designs will be showcased at Menara Sarawak Energy next week.
According to Sarawak Energy Berhad ( SEB), a group of 70 artisans who are actively producing handicrafts in the Tegulang Resettlement will be at the event this Dec 11 ( Monday) to display their craftsmanship to invited guests and members of the media.
“The introduction of the new designs is to enhance commercial viability of these authentic handicrafts, expanding their market further and ultimately, providing an alternative sustainable form of livelihood for the Murum Penans.
“To ensure continuity, knowledge on craft-making is also passed on to the young generation.
“Skilled artisans will become mentors to the new generation of artisans, encouraging the preservation of culture and heritage of the Murum Penan community,” said SEB in a statement, adding that the initiative to diversify and elevate the already well-received Murum Penan Handicraft began last year when the group – through a partnership with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas) – embarked on a handicraft development project slated for improving the quality and versatility of the craft products.
This kickstarted a series of training workshops for the artisans residing in Tegulang Resettlement Area in Murum, which also included collaborations with the Sarawak branch of Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation and also the Sarawak Craft Council since 2014.
“Essentially, the training sessions were meant to improve on the aesthetics as well as on finishing techniques to augment the handicrafts further. The artisans were also given exposure through national and international exhibitions, where they gained fresh ideas and exchanged knowledge about various techniques with other artisans from different communities,” SEB said.