Reading the Wings of the Hornbill: Lembaga Sastra Dayak Logo as a Living Symbol

Design by Alexander Mering

What makes it truly special is that this logo was created by Alexander Mering, designed specifically for the Lembaga Sastra Dayak, which he co-founded with Jaya Ramba, Masri Sareb Putra, and Matius Mardani on July 26, 2025. From Alexander’s creative hand, cultural symbols of the Dayak were woven together with modern aesthetics, making the logo not merely a visual sign, but the very embodiment of a movement.

The Hornbill, Guardian of the Sky and Knowledge

At the heart of the logo spreads the wings of the hornbill. For the Dayak, the hornbill is no ordinary bird: it is a guardian, an intermediary, a symbol of loyalty. Its wide wings open a space for imagination and courage. It declares that Dayak literature must not remain confined; it must take flight, explore, protect traditions, and inspire new generations.

Circuit Patterns, the Language of a New Era

Beneath the grace of its wings lies the circuitry of modern life. This is the most striking detail: ancient symbols conversing with the language of technology. More than decoration, it is a statement—that Dayak literature is ready for the digital realm, where words compete with code, algorithms, and global networks. The circuitry is like a new river of knowledge, flowing fast, connecting ancestral stories with the global stage.

Bungai Terong, the Journey of Life

On each wing rests the Bungai Terong motif, a tattoo mark of the Dayak Iban. It symbolizes the journey of life, resilience, and maturity. Among the Iban, this motif is etched on the body as a sign of adulthood, as a reminder that life is a path of both scars and hope. In the logo, it reinforces the message: as long as the Dayak create, the Dayak will remain present in the world’s cultural dialogue.

Black and White, the Meeting of Two Worlds

The logo’s colors are stripped down to the essentials—black and white. But simplicity here is not emptiness; it is depth. Black speaks of endurance and mystery, while white embodies openness and clarity. Together, they echo the Dayak worldview: balance between light and dark, material and spiritual, past and future.

Horizontal Wings, Literature that Bridges

The hornbill’s wings stretch horizontally, neither soaring upward nor folding inward. This gesture is a bridge, a reminder that Dayak literature is not just for itself, but for connection. It spans across communities, between Dayak society and the world, between ancestral voices and global conversations.

Dayak Literature: From Symbol to Movement

This logo is both face and soul. It tells us that Dayak literature is not a relic locked away in a museum, but a living force—growing, moving, and seeking its place in today’s world. From the hornbill to the circuit, from the Bungai Terong to the balance of black and white, every element is a promise: the Dayak will not remain in nostalgia but will dare to write new chapters on the global stage.

That new chapter officially began on July 26, 2025, when Alexander Mering, together with Jaya Ramba, Masri Sareb Putra, and Matius Mardani, founded the Lembaga Sastra Dayak. The logo was born as its emblem, marking that Dayak literature now has a home, a direction, and wings wide enough to fly further than ever before.