Preservation vs Evolution of Culture

For culture to thrive, should it be preserved in its purest form, or should it evolve with the times? Do they work against each other or can preservation and evolution co-exist? Join world-renowned Sape Artist Alena Murang & award winning bornean film director Sarah Lois Dorai for a special screening of their short documentary Songs of the Highlands, followed by a sharing session discussing their work in efforts to keep their shared Kelabit heritage alive for future generations.

Artist Profile:

Alena Murang (Sarawak) Alena Murang is a Malaysian artist whose work draws on her heritage as an

indigenous Kelabit of Borneo in contemporary times - oftentimes exploring themes of cultural evolution and questioning the fine line of cultural preservation. Her practice reflects on land, memory and the intersections of past and present, contemporary and traditional, rural and Urban. Alena received her Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Manchester, UK (2011) and a Foundation Certificate in Visual Arts from La Salle College of the Arts (2014). She has spent over three decades receiving oral traditions from her elders. Whilst better known as a musician, she has been part of numerous group art exhibitions, like MANAH (2017) at Petronas Art Gallery, and Roots (2018) at Shalini Ganendra Fine Art, both in Kuala Lumpur. In 2023 she had her debut solo exhibition “Colours of the Highlands” at HOAN Gallery, Kuching. Beyond her practice as an artist, Alena runs Kanid Studio, taking on projects that make heritage present.

Sarah Lois Dorai (Sarawak)

Sarah Lois Dorai is an award winning Kelabit film director, publisher & creative from Malaysia whose work is shaped by community-led collaboration with indigenous communities and cultural practitioners. Her films largely explore the intersection of womanhood and cultural continuity and she passionately advocates for indigenous authorship, self-agency and representation both in and outside the film industry. Sarah was honoured as one of Southeast Asia’s Top 5 Women in Media (2024) and named among WikiImpact’s 100 Malaysian Changemakers for her contributions to Arts & Culture (2025).

Artist sharing by: Alena Murang & Sarah Lois Dorai

Moderated by: Saerah R. Kunjan

Venue: temu house, PJ

Date: 09 Aug 2026, Sunday

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Fee: RM30/pax CloudJoi sign up: https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/6742-preservation-vs-evolution-of-culture/