From portrait to landscape paintings, a collection of colourful artwork by 40 local artists in celebration of His Majesty’s 78th birthday is now on display at the Malay Technology Museum until 15 September.
The art exhibition dubbed “Kemilau Gemilang 78: From Heart to Art” showcases more than 60 works by local artists encapsulating the country’s unique and rich cultural heritage and landscape.
Featured artists include Aqilah HAB, Ainan Salsabeelah, Pg Mohd Tomo, Maziyah Yussof, Umi Zaty, Alyssa Alias, Mardhi Hamid, MiK, Smooi, Armacester Arsad, Irene Yap, Nurun Nazihaha, Mao and many more.
The exhibition organised by Larvsh Concept will showcase the beauty and creativity of local art while honouring His Majesty’s significant contributions to the development of arts and culture in Brunei.
Among the highlighted artwork, visitors will get a chance to see Ainan Salsabeelah’s the ‘Echoes of the Market’ series.
The art series is a deeply personal artwork for Ainan, who was inspired by her childhood memories of visiting the old Tamu Kianggeh market with her grandparents.
“My goal was to capture the essence of that bustling market scene from my perspective,” she said.
Ainan talked about her creative process behind the artwork. She focused on highlighting the old lady as the central figure, using a subtle background to reflect the market’s atmosphere.
“The paint splatters are intended to represent the vibrant and dynamic nature of the market, adding a sense of energy and movement to the artwork,” she added.
The young artist said that the exhibition is a good platform for artists like her to showcase their work to a broader audience as well as to connect with fellow artists and art enthusiasts.
“Being included in such an exhibition inspires me to continue exploring and pushing the boundaries of my creativity,” she said.
For one of the artists Qilah HAB, the exhibition is her first comeback after a 7 year hiatus.
She explained that their artwork titled “Anyaman” was inspired by the intricate art of basket weaving.
The young artist wanted to express the beauty of Anyaman (weaving) through various weaving patterns and traditional handicrafts from tudung dulang to the takiding,
“I have always admired the weaving patterns. I know the process of weaving requires patience, years of practice and skills to master it. So, I decided to decorate various patterns along the leaves or rattan on the edges of the artwork,” she shared.
According to the organiser, the art exhibition aims to encourage both young artists and experienced veterans to share their talents and passion for the arts.
It also serves as a platform that bridges different generations and celebrates the evolving art scene in Brunei, they added.
The organiser also shared that the artists were selected by the quality, originality, and relevance of the artworks to the exhibition’s theme.
“The goal was to create a balanced exhibition that reflects a wide range of styles and perspectives, ensuring that the display resonates with a broad audience and truly captures the essence of Brunei’s artistic landscape,” they added.
Not only that, but visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in various activities throughout the exhibition, during weekend art workshops including sketch outing, landscape painting and basic cartoon character sketching.
The official opening ceremony of the art exhibition was officiated by Deputy Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Walsafeelah.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
