Across Borders, One Creative Language

Culture as Ecology, Identity as Responsibility

At Berkumpul Borneo, one truth became immediately clear: Borneo’s creative ecosystem is sustained not by visibility alone, but by necessity. Across Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan, communities create not for trend or attention, but for continuity; to preserve memory, identity, and belonging.

For Bruneian creatives, this gathering clarified our position within the wider Bornean landscape. We are part of the same ecology, shaped by shared histories yet defined by different structures and challenges. What connects us is intention. In both culture and business, trust is built when stories are authentic. And trust is what sustains communities, creative or otherwise.

At Minority Agenda, art is often discussed as a site of memory, resistance, and identity. Representing Brunei in this regional context reinforced an additional truth: cultural work must also be sustainable. Like brands, creative movements require clarity, consistency, and belief from their audiences. Identity, whether artistic or commercial, must be intentional if it is to endure.

Curating Identity Across Borders

The works curated for Brunei’s presence at Berkumpul Borneo shared a single philosophical throughline: identity as responsibility. Each piece whether personal or collective, all carried an intention to preserve, question, or honour lived experience.

This approach mirrors how strong brands are built.

Identity is not decoration; it is a commitment.

Throughout the event, Bornean creatives demonstrated how authorship and ancestry are negotiated collectively. Creation here is relational, not individualistic. Stories are shared, co-owned, and strengthened through trust; the same principles that allow brands and businesses to grow meaningfully.

For Bruneian cultural practitioners entering cross-border conversations, this carries responsibility. To show up with honesty. To articulate our histories with clarity. And to remain grounded in our values while engaging with wider regional narratives.

From Cultural Practice to Creative Strategy

At AICREATIVV, creative strategy has always been rooted in context. Berkumpul Borneo reinforced that storytelling is not only an artistic act — it is a strategic one.

Businesses thrive when their narratives resonate. Creative movements thrive when their intentions are understood.

Balancing AICREATIVV’s commercial ecosystem with Minority Agenda’s cultural advocacy has proven that sustainability and integrity are not opposing forces. Advocacy teaches purpose and community; commercial work teaches structure and longevity. Both depend on identity. Both fail without trust.

This experience will continue to inform how AICREATIVV crafts narratives, such as prioritising authenticity, community-rooted stories, and long-term identity building, whether internally, with clients, or within the wider creative ecosystem.

Selected Works: Film and Visual Art

Among the works presented, 'Dear Self' by Raf Zaini (Media Production Coordinator) stood out for its emotional clarity and restraint. Through vulnerability and simplicity, the film captures internal dialogue and self-recognition including themes deeply resonant across borders. Its sincerity made it a powerful representation of Bruneian storytelling.

The visual works of Haziyah Azalmey (Creative Designer, Marketing), including 'Howl Ya Feline' and pieces from her creative collective, Parallel Play, offered another dimension. Her practice merges playfulness with emotional intelligence, expanding how contemporary Bruneian art can be experienced in a way that is introspective, experimental, and unafraid.

Parallel Play’s ethos treats creativity as a shared space, as a playground where collaboration across mediums is encouraged. In doing so, it reflects the evolving nature of Bruneian contemporary art: diverse, layered, and rooted in connection.