NIAG – Preservation

NIAG Role In Preserving Heritage

Nature Inspiration Art Gallery (NIAG) is a gallery which aims to showcase Sabah’s arts and the artistic talents, especially the young talent of Sabahan artists.

What is unique about the displays in NIAG are that these represent true and authentic essence captured by the artistic talents of Sabah, i.e. creative and reflective artefacts created through the lens, sights and imaginations of the people of Sabah, in particular the young generation.

The exhibits, in the forms of arts and crafts, are renditions of Sabah’s magnificent panorama, livelihood, belief and tradition of Sabah.  Through these, NIAG wishes to engage the public and the wider community to appreciate the rich features of Sabah’s indigenous diversity of cultures which have evolved in harmony with nature despite the bustling and hustling influence of development and modernisation.

All the artworks bring to prominence the enchanting beauty of Sabah, its people and nature.

Although progress and development has taken place, yet a large part of Sabah is still at the cross-roads of modern development. The views or the perceptive lens of the Sabahan artists remain relatively unique, untouched and authentic.  They are still able to create artefacts representing the myriad colourful lifestyles of the indigenous people of Sabah; their activities, their beliefs, rich traditions and cultures, as well as portraying the deep mixed feelings and desires of these people caught at the cross-roads of change and progress. These artefacts capture the deep emotional meanings and reflections of Sabahan coming to terms with contemporary challenges, balancing and harmonising their life based on their worldviews and indigenous wisdom.

With its immensely diverse bountiful environment and over 40 ethnic groups that inhabit harmoniously in a reality that encompasses far and wide, low and high, on land, mountains, islands, rivers and the sea, Sabah is indeed endowed with rich natural diversity and culture. The interconnectedness and interdependency of cultures, beliefs, sacred traditions and socio-economies of the myriad communities define what we mean by heritage in our book.

There remains much heritage yet to be documented (preservation) and brought to the mainstream to be shared with the world. UCSF, through NIAG, aims to uncover, record and educate our people, as well as the world about this precious heritage, which is rich, diverse and colourful.

What is unique about the displays in NIAG are that these represent true and authentic essence captured by the artistic talents of Sabah, i.e. creative and reflective artefacts created through the lens, sights and imaginations of the people of Sabah, in particularly the young generation.