Editor’s note: Those interested may contact Henry Ranggau Muda at +60 14-205 4707
By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Feb 5: Eighty-two-year-old retired teacher Henry Ranggau Muda is a self-taught sculptor.
“I learned to sculpt wooden objects when I was 6 to 7 years. I made my first belian top (“pangka” in Iban) at around eight-years-old from a remnant of belian stump,” he recalled when met by DayakDaily recently.
“This top has lasted until today and has never been beaten by another top in my village when competing, and it is part of my life and sculptor works that I am enthusiastic about,” he said.
His interest in art and craft work started early and lasted throughout his years as a teacher. He was able to devote more time and focus on sculpting when he retired.
Hailing from Sri Aman, Ranggau, said he is happy that his artistic work has gotten recognition.
“They have been placed in public places, cultural centres and ministerial offices.
“But now, for some reason, some of my work have been returned to my possession. I am happy that my sculptures and works got recognition.
“There are many VVIPs—local and foreign—who have seen my work. As an amateur sculptor, their recognition means a lot to me.
“All these events that I had with the VVIPs and where my work exhibited, I capture in photos for memories,” he shared.
Ranggau said he is willing to share his deep knowledge, experience and techniques acquired over the years with anybody interested to pick it up.
“I am looking for an apprentice, but the person must have an inclination for arts, crafts and objects. They must like to use tools like chisels and mallets. The main thing is the enthusiasm and energy.
“Otherwise, they cannot focus and their interest won’t be developed,” he explained.
Ranggau believes there are individuals out there with a great talent for sculpting, but they don’t know where to start.
“Don’t let your talent die a natural death. Like me, I love to pick up any waste wood and exercise my imagination to turn it into a three-dimensional object.
“If you have a mind for surrealism, I believe you can be a sculptor,” he added.
Ranggau’s latest sculpting project featured a large wooden head he has named “Apai Libau”, after the mythical figure in Iban legend who is the chief and father of the people in the mystic world called “Panggau Libau”.
“I like this work as it depicts the identity of my imagination, our Iban mythical culture and legends,” he explained.
Ranggau said he had been working on “Apai Libau” since May 2022 and it is still a work in progress.
“I need to be patient, a trait one needs to be a sculptor. Sculpting an object can take a few days, weeks or even months,” he said.
Aside from “Apai Libau”, he also has sculpted other mystical creatures from Iban legends, electric guitars and others. — DayakDaily
