KUCHING, Sept 6: As stakeholder engagement on the city’s new gastronomy centre begins, Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Kuching is urging other players in the city to propose new events under this model which can be supported by the city’s designation and eventually feed into programming for this community hub.
Following ‘Dine on Art’, a part of the programme which came to a close last weekend, Kuching’s gastronomy sector has now seen a bold new model embedded in its culinary landscape.
In the first year of the city’s designation as a Creative City of Gastronomy under UNESCO, this kind of commercial or creative partnership will become a driving force for Kuching’s membership and spur on culinary experimentation in Kuching going forward.
“We were very excited to be able to take part in this event. The UCCN Kuching team, including Datin Dona Drury Wee and Gracie Geikie enjoyed a fantastic dinner prepared by Chef Achang Libat, in the most inspiring surroundings – truly a feast for the eye and the stomach,” said Dato Wee Hong Seng, who led UCCN Kuching during the event held at Hoan Gallery last Friday evening (Sept 2).
“All this is self-funded, of course. But we genuinely felt that this was an important event for us to support, even in our personal capacity, as this collaborative model is exactly what UCCN Kuching is trying to promote.
“This event was a model on two different bases. First, it shows exactly how the different creative fields can work together to amplify their reach. In this case, we saw renowned Sarawak artist, Hoan Kee Huang, collaborating with Chef Achang. Visual media translated into a gastronomic offering with a series of dishes inspired by the artworks in the Hoan Gallery.”
Taking the opportunity to promote local artists, he said Hoan Gallery at La Promenade Mall is currently holding its ‘Rebirth’ exhibition, celebrating the works of many of Sarawak’s most esteemed visual artists – batik work from Stephanie Eng, Sarawak’s largest watercolour from Michael Chong, among many other luminaries.
Sarawak’s most famous muralist Leonard Siaw was also on the guest list, taking a break from his latest mural at the mall.
Wee said all this inspiration was reborn on plates, crafted by Tuson Chong at Gardencraft Co, through dishes creatively reimagined by rising chefs.
“Second, we saw collaboration between various players in the creative ecosystem. For creativity to grow, multiple requirements are needed to support creative producers, from venues to funding agencies.”
He explained Dine on Art was a follow up to Dine on Clay, held at the beginning of the year and supported by Penjana, Cendana and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak.
Dine on Art saw support transitioning from government to private enterprise, he said, with Hock Seng Lee, the owners of La Promenade Mall, provided the backing and the space, all part of their broader CSR agenda.
“Kuching’s designation under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network seeks to drive exactly these kinds of partnerships for the goals, providing economic opportunity for creative players by harnessing the infrastructure of the city and the commercial sector.”
He said an exhibition on exactly this creative ecosystem can currently be seen at MBKS lobby before it goes ‘on tour’ around the city.
“The forthcoming gastronomy centre will follow this model too, becoming a hub for all community members in Kuching. Engagement is the only way this can grow for all,” said Wee.
For more information on Kuching as a Creative City of Gastronomy, please visit www.kuchingcreativecity.com or email uccnkuching@kuchingcreativecity.com. — DayakDaily
