BY OLIVIA MIWIL - 25 SEPTEMBER 2014 @ 8:01 AM
Learn about the distinctive traditional costumes of various ethnic groups in Sabah at this dolls gallery, writes Olivia Miwil
JUST spend 15 minutes at the privately owned Chanteek Borneo Gallery and you will get a glimpse of the costumes of most ethnic groups in Sabah.
The single storey building, located about 40 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, houses about 300 dolls — most of them adorned in traditional outfits.
A collection of dolls on a coffee table and on the shelves of glass cabinets welcome visitors at the entrance. According to my guide, visitors can only take photographs here.
She says gallery owner Anne Antah has researched on the costumes prior to allowing them to be replicated on the dolls.
“Anne has a strong interest in local culture, her reason for opening the gallery. She has already made costumes from 24 ethnic groups and more will be unveiled soon,” says my guide.
“She hopes these will show the beauty and uniqueness of the Sabah heritage and culture to the younger generations as well as the world.”
The guide also says that Anna recruits locals to sew the attires.
EYE OPENING VISIT
The gallery also has rare designs of ethnic costumes that are seldom seen, even during festivals. The common designs are usually from the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Bajau communities.
Although I have lived in Sabah for over 20 years, the gallery is still an eye-opener. For just RM10 entrance fee, I can learn more about the various ethnic costumes here than during the Harvest Festival in May.
Looking at the vast collection, I can see that the costume makers have put a lot of effort into the costumes, from the choice of materials and the placement of beads, lace and adornments to accessories like headgear, hairdo and jewellery.
Most of the 30-cm tall dolls are displayed on two-tier shelves while some are placed on tables.
“Those on the shelves showcase the different designs for man and woman, as well as singles and married individuals. The ones on tables depict cultural practices like weddings and various ceremonies. There are also miniature traditional houses and other structures for better illustrations,” says the guide.
I can see about 30 dolls in contemporary wedding and evening gowns. To complete the picture, the “women” are accompanied by two “gentlemen” wearing royal wedding attire of the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William.
The tour does not end at the souvenir shop. Visitors can try their hands at playing traditional musical instruments such as gongs, kulintangan and bamboo sets outside the building as well as ketinting, a traditional game for children.
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