
‘We the Mengkuang (Pandanus Plant) (2022)’ is a performance that highlights the Semai culture’s strong emphasis on collective spirit, collaboration, community values and maintaining closeness to one another. A belief reflected in their traditions of weaving—the continuous and meditative interlacing of the physical and spiritual worlds, with the entwining of tradition, history, evolution and ecology.



Led by Dhan Illiani Yusof, she invites attendees to join by becoming the ‘mengkuang leaf’ themselves to become part of the fabric that is woven, in the artwork as part of a larger meditation on humanity and its relationship with the environment. A collective gesture that acknowledges and intercedes with the Semai’s world of collectivism, connectedness, shared responsibilities, openness and adaptability.
The performance was joined in by our neighbors from the Dutch Pavilion and our friend Ronnie Bahari ending the performance with us.
Our works were made possible by the collaboration of our amazing friends from Kampung Ras, our commissioner, project manager, curators and advisors as well as sponsors such as PORT, Balai Seni Negara, Tourism Perak, Noteism and family and friends.
Comments