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This unique acrylic on canvas depicts a natural environment with interesting flora, thick vegetation and the frontier on the undulating landscape. The scene is located near Raphael Scott Ahbeng’s Bau gold-mining town birthplace and residence. ‘Staas’ is Bidayuh for ‘taas’, a rich ironwood also called kayu berlian (diamond wood). Raphael, the master of the Sarawak natural landscapes, is known to have a bias for reds in his already florid palette.

Raphael Scott Ahbeng is one of the most established Borneo artists. Attended Art and Photography course in Bath Academy of Art, Britain in 1964-67 and drama course in London in 1973, he won First Prize, Sarawak Shell Open art competition in 1959, 1982 and 1983 and Third Prize, Natural Malaysia art competition in Kuala Lumpur in 1991. He served as as adviser in Sarawak Artists Society during 1999-2000. His paintings have been held in the permanent collection of public institutions and private collectors in Malaysia.