Appreciating Kaamatan via art
Published on: Tuesday, May 05, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Art should be something beautiful and entertaining at the same time. Speaking at his Spirit of Huminodun exhibition at the CAD Centre for Arts and Design, local painter Sabating Ev Baron Kampiau said beauty is something he hoped to portray whenever he produces his artistic products."Art is not only physically beautiful but intrinsically, it must trigger the feelings of transcendence when beheld. So those who desecrate religious objects or pictures and call it 'art' give a bad name to the artistic fraternity."We should aspire to bring about changes to the art world while at the same time contribute to the world at large," he said.
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Referring to the 16 paintings at the exhibition, Sabating said he wanted to use the series to tell the story about Huminodun who was sacrificed for the survival of man."I tried to combine the landscape, where we live and how we respect our surroundings because ultimately, we believe the existence of spirits all around us. "I tried to incorporate all the qualities into the paintings but at the same time, I narrated the story of Huminodun. We may not believe in the story but we can draw lessons from it on the importance of sacrifice."She died as a sacrifice and all the Dusun and Kadazan people lived on because of her," he said.
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According to legend, Huminodun's body was planted as seeds and became food source, primarily paddy which is cultivated to this day. Every year in May, the Dusun and Kadazan people will celebrate Tadau Kaamatan to thank the spirit of the paddy and to remember the sacrifice of Huminodun.The exhibition, which runs from April 24 to May 31, presents 16 paintings that embrace the colours of nature and culture as well as the figurative images which serve as a cultural ornamentation of the Kadazandusun people.
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The figurative images such as paddy, corn, coconut, jackfruit and all that nature has to give, represent a valuable and precious life – bringing hope.The exhibition coincided perfectly with the Kaamatan month and Sabating said he purposely chose the dates as he wanted to contribute in his own way, towards making this year's Kaamatan that bit more exciting.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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