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CLAD in Murut Tangala traditional attire, Dainsing binti Darum was at the recent 13th Sabah Women Art Craft 2022 held at the Sabah Art Gallery, Kota Kinabalu, to showcase her unique creation.

Originally from Kg Inarad, Tongod, 77-year-old Dainsing made history when she became the first recipient of the Sabah Art Crafts Award 2022.

She was the only one in her village, in Sandakan who mastered the woven embroidery artwork of Murut Tangala motifs and patterns.

Her grace while showing visitors her artwork during the exhibition in SAG made her the brand herself representing all the creations she did, so elegant and stylish in her own right. She got her skills from her parents when she was 12 in 1957. Her first task was shredding banana trunks to get fibre.

Dainsing showing some of the materials used for her handicrafts (left pic). Dainsing, in her full Murut attire, showing the book she documented manually. 

She was then allowed to follow her father into the jungle to collect rattans. She realised after that, it was her passion that led her to continue carrying out the tasks regardless of how difficult it was to obtain raw materials from the jungle those days.

She was first discovered by Museum Sandakan branch in 2009, and later referred to Sabah Cultural Board and Sabah Art Gallery’s Jennifer Linggi for further exposure.

SAG together with Sabah Cultural Board brought her to Melbourne, Australia, at Koorie Heritage Trust in 2011.

She shared some of her good experience during the one-week Collaborative Exhibition and Weaving Workshop Between Sabah and Indigenous Australia Weavers 2011.

“I could not speak English, so when the Aussies asked me about my crafts, all I did was moved my hands to my work and showed them how I did my handicraft,” she said, adding that she did so by demonstrating her skills. She was also sponsored by Petronas Sabah for another exhibition in KLCC.

The price of some ornaments could fetch as high as RM5,000, and Yayasan Sabah bought the pair of Murut Tangala traditional attire for display purposes.

SAG Assistant Director Eva Anani Baggai said demonstration of the Murut Tangala Woven Embroidery event was the first to be held to promote her unique creation.

Eva Baggai: SAG Assistant Director

“We aim to promote a blend of new and existing women artists from all over the State with artworks ranging from installation arts to ethnic crafts.

“This is the first time that we provide a platform for craftswoman like Dainsing for her immense knowledge and skills in the Murut tribal artwork,” Eva explained. The main purpose was to preserve the legacy of Murut artwork which might disappear due to modernisation and lack of interest of the younger generation. “Since Sabah’s Women’s Art exhibitions establishment in 2007, SAG had and is still encouraging and advocating for local women artists to share their artistic talents to the community and not to neglect these skills despite having their family to care for or building their career and so on,” said Eva.

Among Dainsing’s original creation are hand woven traditional costumes, embroidery works, handicrafts using bamboo and rattans, and many other related handiworks originally done by her.

Presently, she is coaching 30 youngsters from all over Sandakan district for the skills and knowledge in regards to the Murut arts and legacy.

She admitted it is not easy to impart the skills and knowledge if one is not having the passion and interest.

Her talents and skills were handed down since three generations ago and none of her siblings had acquired the unique expertise but her.

Having not attended any formal education all her life, it did not stop her from pursuing her dreams to continue the priceless legacy.

The motifs and patterns of Murut Tangala traditional outfit are as unique as the stories they each tell. 

“I never attended any formal school when I was a child, not until when I got a bit older I enrolled in adult class for basic education.

“I also learnt basic mathematics, enough to comprehend the subtraction, addition as these are important for my weaving and embroidery work,” she said.

She was grateful that she could start imparting knowledge and skills to 30 young people to start with.

She is aware of the situation where all her hard work in preserving the heritage might one day be not appreciated if she hasn’t done anything to pass the baton to the younger generations.

“By creating an audience capturing their attention on the artwork and its legacy, I think this would lead us to a successful beginning.

All I ask for is somebody out there to continue this priceless legacy, however it is not easy as you need passionate heart to do so.

“But with the 30 students I have now, I am positive that we will see our legacy live on forever,” she said.

She said for every artwork she produced, each had its own story.

“One of my designs is called ‘Keningau Lun’ meaning the people of Keningau who had been seen as strong and persistence in all their life. “If you see the design attentively, you can see two arms flexing the muscles.  This is representative of how strong human beings are, not only in physics but in the mind,” she said, smiling.

Dainsing briefing visitors on her handicraft.  

Guests were captivated by Dainsing’s artwork during the recent exhibition at SAG. 

Perhaps she was captivated by somebody from Keningau district that her design was named Keningau Lun, instead of others.

Another design, Cap Jangkar, looked like an anchor representing the man of the family who strives to save his family from being “destroyed” by outside force.

Tinantalu another creative design depicting insects in the sand, looking outwards with their eyes widely open carry the meaning of many people out there are watching over the attitude of the people in the public.

Vinusak Lampun, means Durian shoots (flowers) producing good yield. Human beings are special creation by the Divine, therefore it represents specialty in each person to the world. That specialty is then multiplied so good deeds are passed over to the next generations.

She said when a mother nurtures the baby positively, it would become a good person. So, positive vibes would be spread among the community.

Vinusak Lampun represents good seeds to be spread among community for better wellbeing and sustainable future, she said.

Tinibulu design is a colony of insects nearby river, she said in olden days people believed that when one sees it in colony, it is a sign of heavy rain and flood would occur any sooner.

Butitin means star -it is like children who will be groomed to carry on the good legacy to the world, while the moon and the sun represent the guardians.

Sun in Murut is called Mato Orow and the moon is called Bulan, she said.

She was glad that Kg. Inarad community could still converse in Murut.  However, those who had “migrated” to other places are able to understand but not able  to converse fluently due to lack of practice.

She realised that while having her embroidery classes with her 30 students in her village, it gave opportunity for them to freely conversing and practicing their native dialect without qualm. Hence, the situation becomes even lively when everyone is speaking their dialect without hesitant, freely and happily while their hands are occupied with their practical work.

During the exhibition at SAG, she taught some Murut dialects to guests:

• I want to eat. – Saga Oku Makan
• Where are you going? – Otuk Kuayon Mu?
• I am doing my craft. – Monyulam Oku Gitu
• My name is Dainsing. – Galan Ku Dainsing

“Paringkuanangan dirun am makapaguma takau poh ra matong tii,” she said as she bode farewell to the writer.