Born in Long Peluan, Baram in 1961, Elias has always loved art ever since he can remember. WHEN it comes to art, Sarawak is definitely a treasure trove of creative works, each with its own character but collectively, they all highlight the unmistakable identity of this part in Borneo. This is the very essence of what Elias Balare is bringing to life through his collection.
Born in Long Peluan, Baram in 1961, the Kelabit has always loved art ever since he can remember. In this respect, his chosen medium is the tree bark, with acrylic paint being used due to its water-resistance property. “I started using tree bark as my medium back in the 2000s, and the usual species that I use is from the ‘tekalong’ tree (member of the mulberry family and closely related to jackfruit and breadfruit), which grows well in the jungle.
“It bears small fruits, like ‘terap’, and animals that eat the fruits help disperse the seeds. “That’s why the trees grow in large clusters over a big area,” he told thesundaypost when met during a recent art exhibition hosted by Pustaka Miri. On his supply of barks, Elias said he got them from his relatives in Baram, but some of his close friends would help him acquire some exquisite pieces from Indonesia.
“Lawas is also a good supplier of tree barks,” he added. Elias with one of his favourite tree-bark paintings, titled ‘Courtship’. Childhood and early adulthood Elias’ primary school years were spent away from home.
“In 1967, I was s.
