By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Oct 6: In conjunction with What About Kuching (WAK) 2022, ‘Yarn, Wild, and Free’ will exhibit their handcrafted art installations through yarn-bombing at Jalan Padungan and Jalan Bishopsgate during the entire month of October.
In addition to the art installations, the homegrown artisans will host workshops to teach the Kuching public the art of knitting, crocheting, macrame, and beading, as well as a mini hippie market to showcase their products.
‘Yarn, Wild, and Free’ founder Eleanor Nandong, stated that the event’s purpose is to inform the public that handicraft can be a form of street art through installations such as yarn-bombing, and she hopes to grow the knitting and crochet community in Kuching.
Yarn-bombing is a type of street art that uses knitted or crocheted yarn to create visually appealing installations that are usually attached to existing infrastructure, both artificial and natural.
Furthermore, Eleanor emphasised that she wants people to recognise that crafters are equals in the art world, despite the fact that their mode of expression may differ from other art installations, it can still be appreciated in the same way.
“We had this idea that if we start yarn-bombing here, people from other countries, crafters and crocheters from other countries, would come in and contribute their work.
“We have mural artists who come in from other countries. Why not crafters as well? Because this is popular in other countries but not in Malaysia. That is why we started ‘Yarn, Wild, and Free’, and this is a great platform to start.
“We are also the first in Sarawak to do this yarn-bombing, so we are very proud of ourselves for having the courage to do so,” she said at the ‘WAK 2022 Festival: ‘Yarn, Wild, and Free’ Official Cast Off’ press conference, which was held earlier at a cafe here.
Meanwhile, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, who officiated the event, stated that anyone with talents or artistic items to display, but no place to do so, can always contact the MBKS council for assistance.
“I hope that everyone realises how many local talents we have. Don’t let those talents go abroad only to beg them to come back.
“We have a responsibility to promote them and ensure that they will be able to support themselves.
“We are recognised by UNESCO as the creative city of gastronomy. Therefore, we can explore not only food, but also culture, the arts, and everything else,” Wee noted.
‘Yarn, Wild, and Free’ is a collective of women entrepreneurs made up of six local artisans from different genres of handcrafted work: Benang by Elle Nandong, Off The Paint by Audrey Jane, KnitBits by Arwen Zahra, Rbl Rara Collection by Lizzie Bugang, Scars by Raci by Pici Pamg, and Mantra Collection by Muneera Zakaria.
Also present were MBKS deputy mayor Hilmy Othman, MBKS councillor Kho Teck Wan, and WAK founding festival directors Donald Tan and Marina Tan. — DayakDaily
