Celebration of Sarawak Sculpture at Kuching Waterfront

A walk at Kuching Waterfront, you can find many sculpture along the garden. The famous sculpture including the Copper Cat statue, Stainless steel Hornbill fountain and Celebration of Sarawak. Celebration of Sarawak is a unique sculpture placed in plain sight at a small open plaza at the waterfront.

Name: Celebration of Sarawak

Sculptor: Ramlan Abdullah

Year of Sculpture: 1994

Location: Mid Section of Kuching Waterfront, Small open plaza beside the Godown Amphitheater Kuching and Sarawak River Cruise.

Latitude : 1.5588791779682423

Longitude : 110.34708201885225

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The Celebration of Sarawak sculpture is easily been spotted even from the main road (Main Bazzar Road) beside the Kuching Waterfront. It looks like a tripod copper structure placed on a irregular white marble stone block.

The Celebration of Sarawak sculpture is made of copper, mild steel and marble. It was one of the sculpture selected from over 100 sculpture entries in a competition held by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) in year 1994.

Ramlan Abdullah, the sculptor of Celebration of Sarawak sculpture, is a famous sculptor that created various notable sculpture in Malaysia. His other notable sculpture include Growth (1996) displayed at Fumio Asakura Museum, Oita, Japan, Rise (2004), Johor Bahru, and Mim (2006) in Laman Mim, University Teknologi Mara.

The Inscription on the copper plate:

The tripod structure , embedded in the solid rock (earth) , symbolizes the stability & strength of Sarawak State . The ladder or tangga demonstrates the route to prosperity.

The tunnel (based on a dart container) portrays the co-operation & success of politics, economy & society.

The cone form is derived from the Bidayuh Warrior & symbolizes progressive society & shelter.

The crowning Hornbill or Kenyalang is revered as a diety & protector by the indigeneous people of Sarawak.

The traditional motifs of Sarawak around the tunnel & cone forma rhythmic pattern to celebrate the dynamic State of Sarawak.

At close up, the sculpture looks like a Bidayuh Baruk roundhouse, which is a place of community gathering for the Bidayuh people. It is also known as the Bidayuh Headhouse. The feature of the roundhouse is an elevated circular shape wooden house with conical roof, and connected by a carved out wooden stairs.

At the three support pillar of the sculpture, there is a guardian sculpture facing outwards. Several motif carved along the circular wall of the sculpture.