The Ring Ladies

Location: Lot 1731 Block 71 KCLD 10 Mile Kuching-Serian, Road, Kota Padawan, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak 

Artist: Leonard Siaw

Date Finished: September 2020

Date Launched: 14 December 2020 

Background of the mural:

The mural represents the Bidayuh women of Kampung Semban, known as the “Ring Ladies” because of their traditional copper coils. The copper rings around the forearms are called Ruyank’ng while the one around the calves called Rasunk’ng. The rings were traditionally associated with beauty and nobility and were worn from childhood. 

From the mural, the names of the five Ring Ladies (from left to right) are Nyukan Genyai/Nyukan Yan, Peluk Abeh/Peluk Abel, Nyadi Dolah, Tawud Luhan and Singai Nekan

By 2020, some reports described only three women as still actively wearing the rings, while the mural itself was created to commemorate the five remaining Ring Ladies. The remaining Ring Ladies are Singai Nekan, Peluk Abeh and Tawud Luhan.

The mural serves as a visual record of a disappearing cultural tradition and helps preserve the heritage of the Semban community.