As Teripun translates to a place safe of deposit this is the reason I have a chosen a coin, as we always look to store cash in a very safe and secured place. Tauh translates to storage place as guarantee that we always have a place to store coins.
The gold coin, as everybody loves, value, and respects gold. Therefore, the visitors of Kelabit museum would pay respect towards the Kelabit culture. The head of the Kelabit’s elderly conveys the leader of the Kelabit’s community and its culture.
The podium, designed with the Kelabit’s iconic swirly patterns. The gold coin positions on the very top of the podium, conveying the 1st place and the only true champion. The podium is a symbol of victory and respect, as people respects the champion. Hence, visitors pay their respect towards the Kelabit community and culture.
In terms of colours, the gold coin has brown outline, and the podium has the brown (bronze) filled with gold outline, creating contrast and juxtaposition. The juxtaposition gives an effective comparison of gold and bronze medal, as brown is a suitable for indigenous colour and a metaphor for a bronze medal.
Hundred years ago the Kelabit were very primitive, metaphorically they only had
bronze medal. Influenced by Christianity in 1940’s, the Kelabit became a more humane and a civilised society; metaphorically they have reached enlightenment that earns them the gold medal.
The podium’s stairs symbolises the stepping-stones of the Kelabit’s journey to reach enlightenment to become a humane and a civilised society.