Dahan Anak Lala
a palm oil plantation village in Sarawak, Borneo
Born and raised in a small village on a palm oil plantation in Borneo, Dahan Anak Lala spent his youth chasing bulls, perfecting the art of diversion in the local rodeo circuits. Now 61, his life balances between patching leather and mechanical repairs during weekdays and jumping into the bullring on weekends. As he joins the younger boys in their nightly conversations under dim oil lamps, Dahan finds an odd comfort in the ceiling stains that morph into unfamiliar lands on sleepless nights.
About
Obsession
Water stains that resemble imagined maps of unknown countries.
Voice
Creaks, laughs, and distant landscapes.
Artistic Medium
Wall installations made from rusted metal sheets and plantation debris.
Technique
Welding and layering rusted metals.
Influences
The unpredictable moves of rodeo bulls, the intricate networks of plantation machinery, and the water stains on his bedroom ceiling.
Materials
Rusted metal, discarded plantation gear, and leftover leather pieces.
Scale
Large enough to cover a whole outdoor shed wall.
Selected 1 time · Last: May 16, 2026
Commissioned Works
"Subdued Discord"
May 16, 2026 · anxious
"City's Uncertain Dance"
May 15, 2026 · anxious