Art and Aesthetic in the Papan Turai Gawai Batu.


 

THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL
VOL 88 NO. 109 DECEMBER 2024

 
 
Title : 
Art and Aesthetic in the Papan Turai Gawai Batu.

Author : 
Gregory Kiyai @ Keai

Abstract:
The Papan Turai Gawai Batu is a cultural material owned by the Iban community in Sarawak for the purpose of documenting memories in the oral history of the indigenous culture. The existence of the Papan Turai Gawai Batu in this study belongs to a Lemambang from Baram named Imban Kutak, whom he used to remember the verses of incantations in the ritual and ceremony of Gawai Batu. This research is qualitative in nature and employs the explanatory research method to explore, analyze, and understand the art of the Papan Turai Gawai Batu. Erwin Panofsky’s iconographic interpretation model (1955) theory was used to analyze the data, and the findings indicate that the Papan Turai Gawai Batu holds significant value, especially for the Lemambang who serve as guides in ceremonies and rituals in the longhouses. Therefore, through this study, it is hoped to have a progressive impact on the civilization of indigenous communities in the Malay Archipelago in general, and the Iban community in particular.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61507/smj22-2024-VBXX-03


How to cite:
Gregory Kiyai@Keai. (2024). Art and Aesthetic in the Papan Turai Gawai Batu. The Sarawak Museum Journal, 88 (109): 55-72

References
  1. Currey, L.E. (1933). Borneo. SPG handbooks: Westmint.
  2. Gill, S. (1967). Borneo Writing and Related Matters (Sarawak Museum Journal Special Monograph No. 1). In T. Harrisson (Ed.), Book Review. Asian Perspectives, 10, 161
  3. Gin, O. K. (1990). Education in Sarawak During the Period of Colonial Administration 1946-1963. Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 63(2) (259), 35-68.
  4. Harrisson, T. (1965). Borneo Writing. Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, 1ste Afl, 1-57.
  5. Jensen, E. (1974). The Iban and Their Religion. Oxford University Press.
  6. Junaidi, A. & Ali, W.N.W.M. (2024). Sikap Masyarakat Iban Terhadap Pendidikan di Sarawak, 1841-1963. Perspektif Jurnal Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, 16(1), 1-8.
  7. Keai, G.K. (2021). Inspirasi Alam dalam Artifak Budaya Masyarakat Iban di Sarawak: The Inspiration of Nature in the Iban Cultural Artifacts at Sarawak. Sains Insani, 6(3).
  8. Kiyai, G. Tugang, N., Halabi, K.N.M. & Ismail, N.H. (2023). Wanita dan Kolektif Memori: Pendokumentasian dalam Pembuatan Penganan Iban di Sarawak: Women and Collective Memory: Documentation in the making of Penganan Iban in Sarawak. Sains Insani. 8(1): 25-40.
  9. Kiyai, G. (2017). Tikai: Fungsi dalam Kehidupan Budaya Masyarakat Iban. Jurnal Borneo Arkhailogia (Heritage, Archaeology and History). 1(1): 75-82.
  10. Kiyai, G. (2023a). Lupong Manang: Analisis Koleksi Muzium Sarawak dalam Amalan Manang Iban di Sarawak. Jurnal Arkeologi Malaysia, 36(1).
  11. Kiyai, G. (2023b). Faktor dan Kemunduran Artifak Budaya dalam Masyarakat Iban di Sarawak. Perspektif Jurnal Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan. 15(1): 67-79.
  12. Kimwah, J. & Arus, B.M. (2021). Imej Anthropomorphic dalam Gua Kain Hitam (Painted Cave) Sarawak: Anthropomorphic Images in the Painted Cave Sarawak. Jurnal Gendang Alam (Ga), 11(1).
  13. Kimwah, J., Arus, B.M., Fun, H.K.N., Kimjik, A.I. & Mambut, N. (2018). Tinjauan Awal terhadap Lukisan Gua Kain Hitam (The Painted Cave) Niah, Sarawak: Initial Observation of Cave Painting at Gua Kain Hitam in Niah, Sarawak. Jurnal Gendang Alam (Ga), 8, 85-85.
  14. Mikel, K.M. (2007). Tattooing Identity on the Skin: The Changing Significance of Iban Tattooing Tradition in Sarawak, Malaysia. University of Hawai’i at Manoa
  15. Ooi, K.G. (1996). World Beyond the Rivers: Education in Sarawak from Brooke Rule to Colonial Office Administration 1841-1963. England: University of Hull.
  16. Panofsky, E. (1955). Meaning in Visual Arts. The University of Chicago Press.
  17. Pawi, S., Saadon, R. & Hashim, A.T.M. (2021). Development of Missionary Schools in Sarawak 1840-1960. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 10(3).
  18. Permana, R.C.E. (2019). Menjejaki Budaya Serumpun Melalui Warisan Lukisan Gua: Tracing the Regional Culture Through Rock Art Heritage. MALINDO-Journal of Malaysian and Indonesian Studies, 1(1), 8-20.
  19. Pringle, R. (1970). Rajahs and Rebels: The Ibans of Sarawak under Brooke Rule, 1841-1941.
  20. Pyatt, F. B., Wilson, B. & Barker, G. W. (2005). The Chemistry of Tree Resins and Ancient Rock Paintings in the Niah Caves, Sarawak (Borneo): Some Evidence of Rain Forest Management by Early Human Populations. Journal of Archaeological Science, 32(6), 897-901.
  21. Pearce, S. (2017). Museums, Objects, and Collections: A Cultural Study. Smithsonian Institution.
  22. Postill, J. (2006). Media and Nation Building: How the Iban became Malaysian (Vol. 1). Berghahn Books.
  23. Runciman, S. (2011). The White Rajah: A History of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946. Cambridge University Press
  24. Sandin, B. (1976). Iban Way of Life: A Translation from Tusun Pandiau.
  25. Schaafsma, P. (2018). Human Images and Blurring Boundaries: The Pueblo Body in Cosmological Context: Rock Art, Murals and Ceremonial Figures. Cambridge Archaeological Journal. 28(3): 411-431.
  26. Tarigan, L., Naibaho, P. & Siringo, T. (2020, October). The Influence of Cultural And Christianity Values Toward The Society. In Conference Series (Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 103-109).
  27. Walker, J. H. (2020). Power and Prowess: The Origins of Brooke Kingship in Sarawak. Routledge.

 

 

 
 

Copyright © 2021 Sarawak Museum Department
Last Updated On 17 Sep 2025

Operating Hours (Main Office)

Monday - Thursday
8.00am to 1.00pm & 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Friday
8.00am to 11.45pm & 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday
Counter Closed
image Polls
image Announcement