'Pagar & Padi' exhibition: a Sabah story of paddy and promises made

Artists Gindung Mc Feddy Simon (left) and Catriona Maddocks (middle) with curator Sonia Luhong Wan pose with the rice grains harvested from the 'Pagar & Padi' project at The Back Room Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/ Glenn Guan

"My body will give rise to all sorts of edible plants and feed the people. My flesh will give rise to rice, my head – the coconut, my bones – tapioca, my toes – ginger, my teeth – maize and my knees – yams. Our people will never go hungry again.”

These are among the first words that greet you as you step into the Pagar & Padi exhibition space at The Back Room gallery, Zhongshan building in Kuala Lumpur, written in the language of the Dusun people.