BiG Feature : Where Art Thou?

Thinking of art from Borneo probably conjures up stereotypical images of stylised tribal paintings, intricate beadwork and weaving, and while this is certainly an undeniable facet of Borneo indigenous artistic culture, the direction of modern arts has bloomed the island’s creative industry like a well-made cup of Kopi O. While Borneo is renowned for its great variety of food, artists are working hard to build an equally stellar reputation for the local creative industry to showcase the undeniable talent present.

Our first stop has to be the capital city of Kuching, where Haus Kuching, one of the most prominent art and music venues in Sarawak resides. The art and media group enjoys a reputation for keeping the pulse of the creatively inclined community going, thanks to their varied roster of events under and in affiliation with Haus Kuching. Everything from science film festivals, art forums, band nights, artist residencies to curated exhibition and markets touch the sphere of what they can do or help with. 

Discover the growing electronic and punk music scenes via the @nwhr.kch. Their socials are packed with upcoming events and you’ll find some rising Bornean and Southeast Asian artists from both genres on the bill. Kuching certainly knows how to throw a party! Vinyl record fans might be surprised to discover the @bandat.recordstore , which is home to a staggering record collection even the most seasoned audiophile will find a treasure or two in. Further afield in Miri, Sarawak, the festival and market scene saw two new events — the Miri Artisan Market and Lai, Lepak — emerging as front runners for where to indulge in crafty goods and community engagement. All those inclined by the power of the pen will find a friend at any of the Wordsmiths of Kuching events. 

Over in the sunny Sabah, there are museums and art galleries galore. Of course, the Sabah Art Gallery is a must-see. Aside from being the first sustainable public gallery in Malaysia, the uniquely shaped building houses artwork from a range of local creatives. Limited crafts are on sale and they only accept cash or selected bank transfers. For another double dose of architecture and contemporary art, the Azman Hashim Gallery at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is a striking cylinder inspired by the traditional ‘bubu’ fishing trap. If you’re after more traditional craft, we love the centrally located Handicraft Market on Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens or the Mari Mari Cultural Village if you’re looking for Sabahan souvenirs and indigenous arts and crafts.

Up in Kudat, the G Wonder Khalayan Home Art Gallery is a wonderful cornucopia of artistic expression. They call themselves the “Ugliest Home Art Gallery in North Borneo”, a cheeky nod to the haphazard manner that art appears here. You’ll find something of wonder everywhere you look — be it the walls of the building, across a floor pathway in the garden or on a window panel. Looking to get hands on? We recommend popping in to see Emily Jeneble at Kampong Batu Lunguyan in Keningau, for a bamboo weaving workshop which not only teaches you about the endangered tribal craft but also helps the women’s community in the village to earn a living.

For Brunei, ‘scene’ is a term many creatives have heard over the years, with slow progress towards a fully fledged creative industry. Galleries in Brunei are admittedly few. Privately run ones, even less. Haji Osman, a veteran artist and his daughter Osveanne Osman, founders of The Creative Space, helm one of the few gallery spaces that is not government funded. They hold regular art shows geared towards contemporary styles and explorations that for many creatives in Brunei, is a welcome space to showcase the plethora of artistic talent in the nation. There is the new Artsbyeyes Gallery in downtown Bandar, in the obscure Wisma Jaya building that incidentally also houses a DIY themed cafe on the ground floor with decent pasta. A brave move for a solo artist in any circumstance, and if you’re keen on modern impressionist style paintings that are emotionally evocative, it’s worth a visit. You might even end up having a chat with the artist himself who can be often found working on new pieces in the back of the gallery itself. 

The annual Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Spectrum exhibition is a much awaited event that you should peg in your calendar; the best in class for a curated exhibit that showcases a diverse pool of young talents across various genres of art and design. Up for a walkabout? Stop by at the Damuan Park next to Istana Nurul Iman, which is a lovely outdoor space with sculptures made by local artists. If you’re looking for something handmade, the lovely folks at Cahaya Studio in Kiulap do contemporary resin art, and you can even take a class to learn how to make cute souvenirs and accessories like coasters or business card holders.

Further afield in Kalimantan, which seems a world away even to Borneans, there is a thriving art and creative scene that may surprise you. The Pak Eko YES Gallery in Central Kalimantan, is also the former home of the late fame Indonesian artist by the same name, and visitors are not only welcome to come view the art on display, but enjoy time sitting with a coffee in the art shop, or even do some art themselves!