BorneoBorn exhibition in

I swear we just do not have as many art exhibitions as we should! Take for example the #BorneoBorn showcase of artwork and photography that ran for 3 full weeks in March. A collaborative effort between the art curating specialists, Kaleidoscope Studio, and event space hosts, Barunai Gallery, this presentation of Bruneian talent served a dual purpose. “Yes we do support the development of art in Brunei, but we are also keen to raise awareness on the environment and biodiversity, to educate as well as entertain,” says the studio’s founder, Nur Khalisah Ahmad.

In conjunction with World Wildlife Day, some 14 artists put up for display and sale a myriad selection of vibrant and colourful artwork consisting of flora and fauna as well as scenic landscapes. Meanwhile, biodiversity specialists from University Brunei Darussalam had really cool photographic images of our much-loved friends in the animal kingdom, as well as bizarre creepy crawlies, that formed the centerpiece of the gallery while the perimeter wall was adorned with art that Kaleidoscope sponsored frames for.

A Taiwanese national residing in Brunei even created a few installation pieces with descriptions of these thematic representations. The two ravens in apparent conflict with one another for example, representing the necessity of the Internet while also warning that unavoidable negative effects come hand in hand with such a powerful tool for connectivity in a globalised world.

The exhibit also included talks from BruWild, a reptile show, live SFX make-up demo, a bonsai workshop as well as pop-ups consisting of local crafts and food. With World Environment Day falling in June, we sure hope Kaleidoscope might have something up their sleeves! •• IG: @ks.bn FB: Kaleidoscope Studio W: ksbrunei.com

The Blue Raincoat Collective brings in another win for our community, this time with a wholesome social initiative that promotes and celebrates basic upcycling 101 with the endgame of giving back to the community. A nationwide call for gallantry was put out in early February looking for kind souls who were interested in taking 101 unused tables donated by Yayasan School Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and sprucing them up to the best of their abilities, beautified and ready to serve underprivileged children living in Kampong Bolkiah. With the quest for kindness fulfilled, the “101 Tables: A Community Giveback Project Exhibition” was finally ready to be unveiled, showcasing the creative labour and good intentions of over a hundred individuals.

The event launching the much-awaited exhibition at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex was attended by the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Development and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports as Guests of Honour as well as esteemed Ambassadors and High Commissioners, representatives from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, participants of the 101 Tables Project and the residents of Kampong Bolkiah, among others.

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Shinny Chia and the Blue Raincoat Collective team by Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awg Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs lauding their admirable efforts under the Ristaan Abadi Initiative which, with the support of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, aims to better support the community and youths of Kampong Bolkiah B in the form of beneficial projects and collaborations with likeminded non-profit organisations and corporations. A ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated the opening of the event where the esteemed guests were given a tour of the vicinity as well the opportunity to mingle with the painters and vendors consisting of women entrepreneurs and youths from Kampong Bolkiah B.

A philanthropic initiative with a creative kick, the decorated desks made for a beautifully artistic display over the next 48 hours telling of the kindness and generosity of strangers as they waited patiently for their new owners to bring them home.

Pandemic or no pandemic, life inevitably must go on. If anything, this new normal that the global community is adjusting to has forced our hand, encouraging us to move forward with truly innovative ideas that already existed on the fringe of our thoughts but never given a genuine opportunity to be realised … until now that is.

A collaborative effort between the Singapore Tourism Board and the country’s Airbnb Experiences platform, the two partners late last year signed a memorandum of understanding to develop, support and promote tourism to global audiences amidst a new international tourism climate. The initiative, which is hoped to drive quality travel experiences in the Southeast Asian city-state, encourages industry players and enterprising communities to digitalise by pivoting towards innovative hybrid business models. With the hard-hitting impacts of Covid-19 affecting this popular travel destination, the Airbnb platform now features a Virtual Trips destination page showcasing a collection of iconic Singaporean experiences.

The concept of virtual trips itself is a rapidly surging digital commodity that is still in the process of proving itself to be a solution to the global travel and hospitality industry’s ongoing woes. With compelling content such as tours to the Gardens by the Bay Cloud Forest, and ‘The Intan’ Peranakan Home Museum, as well as Sound Bath meditation sessions with a local Deejay, cooking workshops with professional chefs, and a behind-thescenes peek into the rich heritage of Old Kallang Airport, on offer as part of the first wave of online experiences, more partners are expected to follow suit.

In addition to the development of this new tourism landscape, this partnership also seeks to facilitate a data and knowledge exchange to enable effective recovery, enabling the country stays at the forefront of travellers’ minds worldwide via these creative channels.