A rice straw sculpture was created successfully by 22 students from the Faculty of Design and Architecture (FRSB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and nine UPM lecturers at the Rice Straw Sculpture Competition, Penang International Paddy Festival 4.0, held on July 22 to July 24.
The sculpture made of rice straw was inspired by the Malay proverb “Ada Padi Masak, Adalah Pipit", which brings the meaning that wherever an opportunity arises to earn a living, where there will be people gathering.
Team leader of the Malinja Group, Dr. Mohd Fabian Hasna, picked the name ‘Malinja’ as a reference to a variety of paddy that was first introduced in Malaysia in 1964.
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"The sculpture was inspired by the proverb “Ada Padi Masak, Adalah Pipit" which means that wherever an opportunity to earn a living presents itself, that's where the people will gather. This is also due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects the community to continue their lives.
"We have chosen this theme for the sculpture as it fits the current situation from when the COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard from 2020-2021, causing many people to be laid off and even some to close their businesses.
"It is a symbolic image for the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The vertical enclosure made of bamboo and straw symbolises the enclosure where paddy is threshed," he said.
The Rice Straw Sculpture Competition organised at the Penang International Paddy Festival 4.0 was held for the first time at Kampung Terus jetty rice field.
He added that the vertical structure of the enclosure is very important to prevent the paddy (rezeki) from overflowing during the threshing process.
"These enclosures are arranged randomly to form small spaces that become contemplation spaces for visitors. This random arrangement symbolises future uncertainty and challenges for those directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Small-sized sparrows are symbolic of the people and the community who hope for the end of this COVID-19 pandemic. The entire design of this sculpture invites the audience to pause for a moment and think about the effects faced by the community or most people due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the entire design of this sculpture invites the audience to pause and think about the impact that the community or most people are facing as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Meanwhile, it simultaneously triggers emotions and memories of what had happened during the severe COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2021 – UPM.
