Circle Between Realms
Dr Kendy Mitot ╳ Studio 1914 ╳ Joey Lee
“Circle Between Realms” (2025)
Mixed Media with Video Projection and Sound
15:00 min loop
First exhibited at the Ilham Art Show 2025
“Circle Between Realms” explores the symbolism of communication and transportation between the human and spirit realms, drawn from the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of the Bidayuh people of Bau district, Sarawak, Malaysia. As a priestess, Dayung Borih serves as a sacred mediator, facilitating the descent of Topa (God) and I’eng (spirits) into the human realm to bless the Gawai ritual. The work highlights the role of the Taya, a spiritual vessel, as a bridge that symbolises the interconnectedness of all beings – a central tenet of Indigenous worldviews.
Accompanied by the resonating sound of the Gondang ouguong (brass gong) [1] during the circling of the Bawal (altar) by the Pinguguoh (senior priest) and Pinyigar (junior priest) [2], the movements of the Dayung Borih during the ritual summon the simonggi i’eng podi (spirits of the paddy). This reinforces the sacred bond between humanity and the natural world. The reverberations of the brass gongs and belalang (bell) not only call the spirits but also serve as a reminder of the harmony essential for universal balance – a harmony now endangered by modernisation and environmental exploitation.
The symbolic layering of the cross [3] within the composition reflects the duality of cultural evolution. There is a tension between tradition, religion and modernity captured through the interplay of ritualistic elements and contemporary symbolism. The Dayung Borih [4] perceives time differently on earth and in the spiritual realm, and this work seeks to interpret that experience using video projection and an ethereal soundscape. A video projection is mapped onto the circular arrangement of the paddy seeds surrounding the Taya [5]. This demarcates the threshold between the realms.
According to the myth of the Adat Dayung Borih, the Taya is a transport vessel for the priestess to travel from the spirit world to the human world. Typically, the Taya is around 15-30 cm, but in this installation, the Taya is translated to life-size proportions as a study of its traditional form and a test of the personal versus the infinite. At this scale, the viewer is drawn to the details of the Taya:
The Taya is made from bamboo, cut and woven into a square, which becomes a seat for the Dayung Borih as she descends onto earth. Pak pogang, a rope traditionally made using the bamboo outer layer (bamboo used to cook glutinous rice), is scraped and tied at each of the four edges. In this version, we utilised the braided tree bark for additional stability. The woven bamboo is used as the base, and four tree bark ropes are tied together, forming a pyramid shape. Typically made with the manah leaf, a tree bark is used instead to be folded into a conical shape for protection from the rain and heat of the sun for the Dayung Borih, called Siro’oung [6]. Two Sombang (small bamboo) [7] are tied together with a rope as water containers. An Onyad (woven pouch) [8] hangs off the side, usually filled with travel provisions such as rice, meat, areca nut and others that were wrapped with manah leaf. A Subuoi (woven basket) [8] sits in the middle with prosih (beads and bells), white rice, yellow rice, ornamental beads and bells, ajang (pogang, manah leaf), betel leaf, areca nut, nipah leaf cigarettes, tobacco, lime paste, e’juok, buak juli (shelled coix seeds) as offerings to the spirits.
The soundscape comprises synthesised audio captured from the last traditional annual Gawai in 2019, the chanting of the Dayung Borih and the sound of the gong plays with recordings of the river and the great argus. The animation parallels the journey of the Dayung Borih traversing across the realms in three acts; it begins with the invitation to the spirits, followed by the ritual dance offering for the villagers and concludes with the Dayung Borih’s ascension to the spiritual realm. As the soundscape crescendoes, the whisper of her living relatives calls her to return from the spirit world. The video loops, signifying a continuity.
This work seeks to honour Indigenous traditions, emphasising their resilience and the ongoing relevance of their wisdom. It invites viewers to reflect on the universal need for harmony between humanity, spirituality, and the environment.
⭐ILHAM ART SHOW 2025
📍ILHAM GALLERY, KUALA LUMPUR
📅 2 NOVEMBER 2025 - 5 APRIL 2026
🕰️ TUE-SAT: 11AM - 7PM, SUN: 11AM - 5PM
🚪 CLOSED ON MONDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION
📍ILHAM GALLERY, KUALA LUMPUR
📅 2 NOVEMBER 2025 - 5 APRIL 2026
🕰️ TUE-SAT: 11AM - 7PM, SUN: 11AM - 5PM
🚪 CLOSED ON MONDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION
The "Circle Between Realms" Team:
(From the left) "Hong Hu & Adzlynn (Studio 1914), Dr Kendy Mitot, Joey Lee"
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to
Rahel Joseph, Director of ILHAM Gallery
Azzad Daih, Chitoo, & Syaza Ramli
Rahel Joseph, Director of ILHAM Gallery
Azzad Daih, Chitoo, & Syaza Ramli