"Kayanic Dayak" refers to art and cultural traditions of the Kayan and related groups of the Dayak peoples, indigenous inhabitants of the island of Borneo. The term "Kayanic" specifically describes the artistic and cultural affinities of the Orang Ulu, or "upriver people," in the region, including groups like the Kayan, Kenyah, and Bahau, who share common aesthetic traditions rooted in the interior of Borneo. The term is used to describe related Dayak sub-groups, most notably the Kayan and Kenyah people, who are among Borneo's most accomplished artists. Kayanic art is characterized by elaborate wood sculpture, beadwork, and other forms of artistic expression found in traditional items such as burial sites, funerary structures, and decorative elements for longhouses and artifacts like baby carriers. These artistic traditions are tied to the Dayak peoples' history and culture, which includes practices like animism and, in the past, headhunting. The Kayanic tradition originates from the interior of Borneo, particularly in the middle Mahakam basin of East Kalimantan (Indonesia) and parts of Sarawak (Malaysia).

Kayanic Dayak shrine guardian mask
wood, shell
19th century

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