Neighbours in HEART, Friendship in ART
Published On October 26, 2025
Sarawak Artists Society Marks Major Milestone
with Regional Exhibition
Sarawak Artists Society (SAS) has once again demonstrated its leadership in the region’s visual arts landscape by successfully organising the landmark exhibition “Neighbours in Heart, Friendship in Art”, held from 20 to 26 June 2025 at the Borneo Cultures Museum, Kuching.
Involving forty five artists from Sarawak and eighteen from Brunei, the weeklong exhibition featured ninety nine artworks spanning painting, ink, mixed media, digital art, and installation. The exhibition explored shared cultural themes such as heritage, identity, spirituality, and the natural environment of Borneo by providing a cross-cultural dialogue between the two nations.
The launch ceremony on 21 June 2025 at 10:00 a.m. was officiated by YB Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak. The programme included a welcoming dance, official speeches, gift exchange between Brunei and Sarawak, opening gimmick, group photography, a tour of the gallery, and a lunch reception.
Over the course of seven days, the exhibition attracted 4,626 visitors, comprising residents, tourists, students, collectors, and government officials. It was supported by a comprehensive schedule of community-based activities such as cultural performances, workshops, and artist led sessions. All were designed to promote public engagement with the arts.
This exhibition marks a significant milestone for SAS, affirming its role as one of the most active and enduring arts organisations in Sarawak. Since its establishment in 1985, SAS has continuously driven artistic excellence and regional collaboration through regular exhibitions, cultural programmes, and international exchanges. The success of this event strengthens the Society’s position as a catalyst for cultural diplomacy and heritage preservation.
A visitor to the event commented:
“This is more than an exhibition. It’s a meaningful cultural connection. SAS has truly elevated Sarawak’s presence in the regional art scene with this initiative.”
The Society’s ability to organise a regionallevel event of this scale demonstrates both its organisational maturity and the growing recognition of Sarawak as a vibrant hub for the arts. The collaboration with Creative Space Art Collective Brunei further underscored the exhibition’s crossborder significance, opening the door for future joint endeavours between Sarawak and its neighbours.
Sarawak Artists Society expresses its profound gratitude to all who made the event a success. Special thanks are extended to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) for their funding and policy support, the Borneo Cultures Museum (BCM) for hosting and technical assistance, STATOB for coordination, and to the Society’s Bruneian counterpart, Creative Space Art Collective Brunei, for their artistic partnership and dedication.
With this exhibition, SAS not only celebrates artistic expression but also strengthens regional unity, fosters deeper understanding through art, and reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of Sarawakian cultural identity both locally and beyond.
Please click the link below for Brunei & Sarawak Art Exhibition’s Catalogues.