The Influence of Dayak Culture on Artists in Sarawak: Insights from Visual Analysis and Semi-Structured Interviews

Abstract

This research explores the influence of Dayak culture on seven selected artists, comprising four Dayak and three non-Dayak individuals, residing in Sarawak, East Malaysia. Through semi-structured interviews, the study seeks to understand the significant inspiration that Dayak culture provides to these artists. The findings indicate a noticeable difference in the representation approaches used by each artist in depicting Dayak culture. Formal analysis of the paintings shows that Dayak artists often draw inspiration from local flora, fauna, and landscapes, leading to more abstract representations, whereas non-Dayak artists, influenced by their observations and research, tend to focus on figurative depictions, including traditional Dayak lifestyles and cultural elements like headgear and beads.