Digital Research Publication

SleepingArchive

The Unseen, Reawakened.

A digital archive exploring how Sarawak's weaving traditions carry memory, belief, identity and relationships between people and their environment - reinterpreted through contemporary technology.

Enter the ArchiveOpen Research BookTry Interactive Experience
Sarawak, MalaysiaTraditional Knowledge x Contemporary Technology2026
Sleeping Archive research book cover
Research Book
01 / About the Archive

Memory
Carried
Forward.

Sleeping Archive explores how traditional cultural knowledge can be reinterpreted and carried forward through contemporary forms.

Inspired by Borneo's weaving traditions, the publication documents weaving practices, motifs, meanings, histories and material traditions across communities including Iban, Lun Bawang, Kelabit, Bidayuh, Penan, Kenyah, Kayan, Melanau Rajang and Sarawak Malay.

02 / Selected Pages

Inside the
Research.

Introduction page
04Introduction
Iban Community page
12Iban Community
Kelabit Community page
17Kelabit Community
Melanau Rajang Community page
22Melanau Rajang
Cross-cultural interpretation page
28Cross-Cultural
03 / Interaction Guides

Gesture
Guide.

Use your hand gestures to interact with the archive in real time.

01
Wave
Change colour
02
Fist + Drag
Catching & spread out
03
Open Hand + Throw
Pattern come back
04
Blink Hand
Pattern change directly
05
OK Gesture
Weaving the lines
Try Interactive Experience
04 / Research Book

Read the
Full Archive.

Open Full ScreenDownload PDFInteractive Experience
Sleeping Archive

The Unseen,Reawakened.

Project Team

Adela Miew Eng Fong
Jia Yin Lee
Herzent Emil Anak Bita
Winnie Ying Hie Ling

Supervisors

Associate Professor Dr Predrag Nikolic
Senior Lecturer Mr. Gregory Lik Hoo Wee

Book Design

Jia Yin Lee

Presented by

School of Design and Arts
Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus

Exhibited at

Ars Electronica Festival 2026

Supported by

Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak

Back to Top