Recyclable Water Container – A Dying Art?

Muhammad Izwan Idris makes a living out of producing Labu Sayong, a gourd-shaped carafe that is used to keep water cool.

It is not a popular trade that many youngsters would venture into but Izwan is happy doing just what he does.

Working on his craft at Kraf Sazilah in Kampung Lembah Sayong in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Izwan shares his story of being part of this dying craft.

When we approached him for an interview, Izwan was in the midst of making motifs and adding colours to the dull clay surface used to make the labu.

Izwan shares that he has been in this trade for 16 years; long enough to see the transition of potters using the traditional potters’ wheel to using machinery imported from Japan now.

He acquired the labu making skills in his early teens. Today, at 30, Izwan is the only one in his family who still makes the labu for a living. Since his parents’ retirement from this business, his nine other siblings have ventured into other fields.

“Some opened shops while others have jobs,” he shares.

Izwan remembers the time when he was younger and the village is filled with people making and selling labu. At that time, he didn’t know that he would continue the village trade. Like most children, Izwan had many ambitions, none of which involved becoming a potter.

But Izwan doesn’t regret his decision to earn a living from making the labu and is proud of this tradition he is upholding.

He says that pottery is an art one acquires, and funnily enough, art was the subject he failed in school during his younger days. But obviously, his failure in the subject did not stop him from pursuing this line.

Even though making labu is his main source of income, he still considers it as a hobby that pays money, and not work.

He also has plans on opening his own labu business but lacks capital and the financial assistance from the government is not sufficient. Izwan acknowledges that labu is dwindling in popularity and not many youngsters are keen on taking over the business.

He feels that most youth would not go into this field because they are not interested. Besides that, the work is also time consuming and tedious.

Nevertheless, Izwan feels that youths should not be forced into this industry. “All humans are different,” he says. He believes they have different taste and different interests. So, it is pointless to push them to do something they do not want.

The interview drew to an end and as we walked away, we could see Izwan getting back to working on his labu, and nodding his head to the music in the background.

We hope that in the future, there will be more people like Izwan, willing to take on the responsibility of preserving traditional arts..

Taken from http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/6/28/lifefocus/4205645&sec=lifefocus

Tagged with: carafe • container • dying art • Kraf Sazilah • Kuala Kangsar • Labu • Muhammad Izwan Idris • Perak • potter • pottery • recyclable • Sayong • water

Filed under: General

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