KUCHING: The Digital Arts Festival, introduced at the 2024 International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS 2024), symbolises the harmonious blend of art and technology, presenting a pioneering innovation exhibition.
The festival, spearheaded by the Sarawak State Government in conjunction with the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), and SAINS at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), is set to debut on Wednesday (Oct 16).
As per a press release, this collaborative endeavour is led by HAUS KCH and Seni Kita, with the backing of creative entities like Filamen, Zass Puravida, Odd Job Co, Carya Kolektif, NWHR, and UGM.MY.
Dr Khairul Hafiz Sharkawi, Lead Secretariat of IDECS 2024, conveyed his enthusiasm, emphasizing the festival’s role in underlining the significance of creative innovation in shaping the future of the digital economy.
“We are delighted to join forces with HAUS KCH to bring forth a vibrant ensemble of artists and creators for this year’s IDECS 2024. By intertwining traditional cultural elements with state-of-the-art technology, we reflect our dedication to nurturing sustainable AI practices that align with Sarawak’s digital economy aspirations,” he remarked.
Moreover, the festival spotlights the enthralling art exhibition ‘Does AI Dream of Electric Mouse Deer?’ (DAIDEM), drawing inspiration from Philip K Dick’s ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’
This exhibit delves into the realm where reality blurs with artificiality through fresh media works amalgamating cultural, environmental, and futuristic digital art themes.
The collection of these new media works unveils potential future scenarios by blending familiar cultural and environmental motifs with diverse interactive experiences — static, interactive, or immersive—based on the viewer’s journey through the exhibition.
Featuring over 30 artists from East and West Malaysia, France, and China, such as Alimy, Art: Tech, Azarikh, Claudia Song Mei Ling, and Crystal Amira, among others, the festival also includes live ambient and experimental music by Kuching-born DJ Kretek, curated by Syed Rusydie of HAUS KCH and Abdul Shakir of Filamen.
Syed Rusydie, Project Manager and Curator of DAIDEM described the exhibition as a unifying force, connecting diverse creative communities and art disciplines by blending an array of artistic expressions.
“I aspire to bridge the gaps between creative communities and art forms. DAIDEM achieves this by amalgamating various art forms meticulously crafted by artists and art collectives from East and West Malaysia, along with contributions from our French and Chinese counterparts. Together, they enrich our understanding of IDECS 24’s theme on sustainable AI practices.
“We are grateful to Huawei Malaysia and IDECS for granting us this invaluable opportunity to contribute towards exploring future possibilities while navigating this digital frontier,” he expressed.
Admittance to the exhibition is complimentary, welcoming individuals of all ages to partake in this two-day festival with their loved ones. The exhibition is open to the public, offering a platform for exploration and engagement. For more details on the Huawei Digital Arts Festival 2024 or to discover more about HAUS KCH, please visit their website.
