Idealogy Journal Vol. 5 Issue 1, 33-42, 2020 33 The ‘Kelingai Motif’ in Iban’s Tattoo Motif; A Case Study of Kampung Gayau Ulu Pantu, Sri Aman Sarawak Gladys Tagie 1 , Nurul Shima Taharuddin 2 , Noor Aileen Ibrahim 3 Faculty of Art & Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Perak, gladystagie82@gmail.com, 2 nurul026@uitm.edu.my, 3 nooraileen@uitm.edu.my ABSTRACT This research is conducted on core problem that had occurred on ‘Kelingai’ motif (cultural form) among new modern young generation. ‘Kelingai’ motif is a symbol of indigenous culture Iban people in Sarawak, but ironically has many motives ‘Kelingai’ intertwined with a modern motif and has been widely used by young people today. This generation seems to take for granted for the beauties of ‘Kelingai’ motifs that they leave behind their original motifs of tattoo founded by their ancient generation before in valuable traditional art. ‘Kelingai’ motif represent its own meaning according to geographical factor and tattoo wearer’s belief. This big question aroused deep interest for the researcher to explore and reveal the secret wold of ‘Kelingai’ motif of tattoo. The research had been conducted among Kampung Gayau’s resident who comes with their tattoo at all age levels. This research basically based on well-known theories, Erwin Panofsky Theory. This theory will reveal the meaning of ‘Kelingai’ history through it approaches such as in style, type and symbol domains in the theory. These domains help us to know better about the history of ‘Kelingai’ motif in Kampung Gayau, explicity and also to Iban’s society internationally as a group of people who nourishing their ancestors’ life value into their young generation in modernization and globalization. Key Words: Cultural form, Tattoo, Iban culture, Kampung Gayau 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of Kampung Gayau Ulu Pantu, Sri aman Sarawak. Based on the report from Sarawak Government (2009) this largest state had divided into eleven administrative divisions. There are Betong Division, Bintulu Division, Kapit Division, Kuching Division, Limbang Division, Miri Division, Mukah Division, Samarahan Division, Sarikei Division, Sibu Division and Sri Aman Division. Kampung Gayau, Ulu Pantu Sri Aman, Sarawak is an area comes from Sri Aman Division. This village had founded since at the middle of 19 th century and keep growing in term of population and the physical development for more generations until now. This village had been divided into five longhouses with each long house leader (Tuai Rumah) for the time being. All these longhouses are: Table 1 The list of Long house Leader and its territory. Name Territory/Area TR. Medang anak Janggi Gayau Illi TR. Dunggau anak Enteri Gayau Ulu TR. Galang anak Mancha, Gayau Tinting TR. Pasang anak Gaun Gayau Tengah TR. Rogers Nyaring anak Ibam Gayau BINA brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Universiti Teknologi MARA Institutional Repository