Art Borneo Connection

A platform for art exchange between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

The Art Borneo visual art exhibition serves as a meeting point for artistic collaboration across the nations that share the island of Borneo — Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. Borneo holds unique geographical potential, being home to these three countries. This potential provides fertile ground for building a network of artists through an exhibition initiated by cultural practitioners in Kalimantan, with the aim of attracting collaboration with fellow artists from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. The exhibition will take place in West Kalimantan, in the city of Pontianak.

Notably, Pontianak and the broader Kalimantan region have yet to host an art exhibition that facilitates artistic exchange or collaboration between different regions of Indonesia, let alone across nations. This initiative responds to the need for cross-border collaboration to strengthen regional integration and foster the potential of artists through artistic processes. Such collaborations are vital in efforts to revitalise and sustain the existence of visual arts (Sofyani, 2017).

“Bala Dingan” has been chosen as a concept representing the weaving of networks and building artistic connectivity between Indonesia — from Sabang to Merauke — Malaysia (including Sarawak, Sabah, and Peninsular Malaysia), and Brunei Darussalam. The term "Bala Dingan" comes from the Dayak Bidayuh language spoken in Entikong, Sanggau, West Kalimantan. “Bala” means “a group” or “collective,” while “Dingan” refers to “companions” or “friends.” Together, Bala Dingan can be understood as “A Collective of Companions” — a group of interconnected artists and peers who are united in their vision to co-create the Art Borneo: Bala Dingan exhibition across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

This exhibition will feature an open call and a curated selection of artworks from artists across all three nations, each reflecting their rich cultural and artistic perspectives. Through this shared platform, Art Borneo aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences, and inspirations — cultivating a vibrant and interconnected artistic ecosystem within the region.