An image of a Semai elder in Perak playing the pensol (nose flute), which is part of Ronnie Bahari's photo series at The Lain Lain Project exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Ronnie Bahari
The term “lain” (meaning “other” in Bahasa Malaysia) frequently serves as a divider, as seen in phrases like “lain-lain,” which refers to individuals outside of the specified or “main” ethnic groups.
The Lain Lain Project, an exhibition recently launched by the Kuching-based arts and culture collective Borneo Laboratory at GMBB in Kuala Lumpur, aims to reverse this trend.
Its goal is to foster unity by encouraging us to celebrate our commonalities and overcome our distinctions.
Visitors are reminded of this at the exhibition entrance, which tells them, “The word ‘lain’ in Sanskrit is defined as ‘to embrace’.”
The Lain Lain Project, which is showing until Oct 20, unveils narratives and dialogues born from three transformative journeys spanning the past four years, resulting in a three-part exhibition.
The 'Serumpun' section of the The Lain Lain Project exhibition, which also features three publications. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah
Curated by Borneo Laboratory founder Wendy Teo, the exhibition aims to reignite our collective heritage by exploring ancestral wisdom drawn from Borneo’s craft traditions, indigenous communities, and beyond.
“During our visits to various communities (in Borneo), we came to understand that when we take, we must also give back. Nature should not be conquered or exploited; rather, it is a space where we can reflect and practice our humanity,” says Teo, an architect and cultural activist from Kuching, Sarawak, during the exhibition’s recent launch.
Across the borders
The Lain Lain Project marks a significant milestone as a major exhibition project from Sarawak (and beyond) to grace the Klang Valley since last year’s notable Sabah-based showcases: Jennifer P. Linggi’s Bakul: Everyday Baskets From Sabah exhibition and the Yee I-Lann & Collaborators: Borneo Heart exhibition.
‘I hope that visitors to The Lain Lain Project will leave the exhibition more open to accepting one another’s differences, as each of us are different as individuals, and yet as humans, we are the same,’ says Teo. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah
Exhibitions like these, originating from Sabah and Sarawak and brought to Kuala Lumpur, play a vital role in uniting Malaysia by bridging geographical distances and nurturing cultural understanding.
In the initial segment of The Lain Lain Project exhibition, titled Serumpun and initially showcased at the Borneo Cultures Museum in 2022, visitors are immersed in the world of Borneo-based craft communities. Here, the spotlight illuminates their talents and dedication to safeguarding ancestral wisdom amidst the challenges of fading traditions.
With backing from academic colleagues (The Innovation School, Glasgow School of Art) and a grant from the British Council, Borneo Laboratory extended the initial Kuching-based initiative to encompass 12 craft communities across Sarawak, Sabah, and Kalimantan.
The initiative was named Serumpun, symbolising unity with shared roots and aspirations.
A general view of The Lain Lain Project exhibition, now showing at the GMBB arts mall in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah
“Before colonial governments came, we used to be serumpun,” remarks Sujianto, the village head of Jagoi, Indonesia. His contributions are featured in the book Serumpun, which documents the communities, craft practitioners, and artisans encountered during the project.
During its project tour across Borneo, Borneo Laboratory discovered that despite the political borders established decades ago, numerous shared traits persist among the communities in the region, regardless of whether they reside on the Malaysian or Indonesian side of the border.
Through a combination of photos, text, and short films, visitors at the GMBB gallery space will be immersed in the world of five traditional crafts, witnessing the tools utilised and the skilled hands behind them.
These crafts include bamboo weaving, timber instruments, rattan weaving, bead weaving, and bidai weaving – a unique mat crafted from rattan and tree bark cloth by the Bidayuh tribe.
A visitor views the wood print artworks made by refugee students in Heidy Quah and Yeoh Lian Heng’s collaborative project. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah
Moreover, visitors will have the opportunity to delve into ancestral wisdom, discovering intriguing practices such as why instrument makers in Sarawak consult the lunar cycle to determine the optimal time for timber extraction.
They will also gain insight into the enduring impact of colonialism through the extractive economy, and its ongoing repercussions on indigenous communities.
Intriguing parallels
The exhibition’s second part "Big Trip", chronicles Borneo Laboratory’s pandemic-era research project (2021-2023), investigating how ancestral wisdom shapes broader global connections across generations.
“By collecting stories from different places and ethnic groups, we explored how dreams guide exploration, how gathering in nature shapes culture, the abilities we have lost due to environmental changes and our perceptions of medicine,” says Teo.
“These may seem like unique perspectives, but similar practices can be found in different places around the world, including Taiwan, Bhutan, Brazil and Japan, helping us rediscover clues that connect humanity with the visible and latent aspects of the world,” she adds.
'The photographs taken by the British were demeaning; they brought down the spirit and self-esteem of the Orang Asli. This photography series beautifully refreshes the representation of the Semai tribes, uplifting the community spirits,' says Temuan-Semai photographer Ronnie Bahari. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah
In this corner of the exhibition, you’ll uncover intriguing parallels between the Kelantanese healing ritual Mah Teri and the Indian concept of chakras, among other fascinating discoveries.
Shared terms like “pintu”, meaning “door”, were found across Bhutan, India, and Nusantara. Photographer Ronnie Bahari from the Semai community in Perak revealed that dreams are a conduit to accessing ancestral wisdom, creativity, and wellness – a practice observed in Borneo, Australia’s Song Lines, Taiwan, and South American cultures.
Visitors can also explore the project’s two accompanying books: Three Drops Of Rice Wine, a printed anthology of expedition stories, and Rooted Practices, a collection of illustrations inspired by these narratives.
Apart from reading printed interview excerpts showcased in the exhibition, visitors can delve deeper into the subject matter through the three-episode podcast, "Big Trip – Tracking New Connections".
Keep the dialogue going
The last section of the exhibition, "Lain Lain In Kuala Lumpur", sparks a dialogue on the complexities of “lain-lain” in the Malaysian context.
In the opening short film Sama Sama In Lain Lain, Teo converses with festival director Joe Sidek, indigenous contemporary artist/activist Shaq Koyok from the Temuan tribe, creative entrepreneur and Cult Gallery founder Suryani Senja Alias, and Dr Maude Phipps, a professor of Human Genetics at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia.
In video series, Ronnie Bahari, a Temuan-Semai cultural activist, joined forces with Semai youth Ndang Seliman from Perak, using photography and film to empower indigenous youth and confront post-colonial shame. Photo: Borneo Laboratory
During their candid discussion, Teo posed insightful questions to the four participants. She delved into topics such as the relevance of categorising Malaysians by ethnicity today and how the system could be enhanced.
In line with the video’s message, a blackboard is hung on a wall in the exhibition, inviting visitors to write down who they are – prompting us to think about how we define ourselves and the multifaceted identities we all hold.
This section also highlights three collaborations by individuals committed to building a more inclusive community in Malaysia. Social rights advocate Heidy Quah, founder of the non-profit Refuge for the Refugees, partnered with Yeoh Lian Heng of Lostgens Contemporary Art Space to exhibit compelling artworks crafted by refugee students in a wood printing workshop facilitated by Lostgens’ Collective.
Temuan-Semai cultural activist Ronnie Bahari collaborated with Semai youth Ndang Seliman from Kampung Tumbuh Hangat (in Bota, Perak) to empower indigenous youth by using photography and film to address lingering post-colonial feelings of shame.
In the opening short film 'Sama Sama In Lain Lain,' Teo interacts with a varied group of arts and culture representatives. Photo: Wendy Teo
“The photographs taken by the British were demeaning; they brought down the spirit and self-esteem of the Orang Asli,” says Ronnie in an interview with Borneo Laboratory, explaining why he undertook the photo series and videos featured in the exhibition, which portray the Orang Asli proudly, on their own terms.
“In the 1990s and 2000s, I witnessed many indigenous people concealing their identities and adopting the clothing and dietary habits of other ethnicities, such as the Malay and Chinese. This photography series provides a refreshing portrayal of the Semai tribes, revitalising community morale,” he explains.
Writer-photojournalist Kuik Yi Ke, who has been documenting the history and culture of Peninsular Malaysia’s indigenous peoples through both visual imagery and written narratives, connected with Semai writer Akiya through her work. In the exhibition, visitors can see how their paths and narratives intertwined.
“Over the past four years, I had opportunities to work with numerous individuals and organisations with my projects, and now I’m very glad to have the chance to showcase the results of the research with Think City in Kuala Lumpur.
“I hope that visitors to The Lain Lain Project will leave the exhibition more open to accepting one another’s differences, as each of us are different as individuals, and yet as humans, we are the same,” concludes Teo.
The Lain Lain Project exhibition is showing at GMBB, Jalan Robertson in Kuala Lumpur until Oct 20. Open daily. Free admission.
