Jonita
Ayat
Based in northern Sarawak, rattan weaver Jonita Ayat works closely with forest materials that have sustained Penan communities for generations. Through her practice, rattan is not only a resource but a record of relationship: it must be found, harvested, cleaned and prepared with care before any weaving begins.
Jonita’s baskets and woven pieces often respond to contemporary needs while keeping traditional techniques intact. Forms may shift in scale or function, but the method remains deeply grounded in Penan ways of working with the forest. Patterns emerge from repetition and experience, not from printed templates.
In a terroir economy, her practice sits between conservation and livelihood. Buying a woven piece is not just acquiring an object. It sustains a knowledge system, keeps forest stewardship relevant, and reminds us that climate, land and culture are intertwined in every loop of rattan.
FB : Jonita Ayat
Contact : +60 14-735 3171
