THE Borneo Illustration and Creative Festival (BIC Fest) returned for its fourth year, providing a platform for Sarawak’s hidden artistic talents, often overlooked in mainstream exhibitions, to be seen, celebrated, and supported.
The festival, themed ‘Echoes of Borneo: A Diverse Harmony Through the Colours of the Land’, showcases an eclectic mix of paintings, digital works, crafts, and illustrations from individuals across diverse backgrounds.
More than just an exhibition, BIC Fest is a movement, built from the ground up by passionate creatives who believe Sarawak’s creative ecosystem deserves to thrive.
Frank Foo, co-founder of BIC Fest, said the exhibition is aimed at the general public of Sarawak and seeks to highlight untapped local talent.
“This exhibition is meant for the whole Sarawak public,” he explained.
“We see many exhibitions that primarily feature established artists. What we wanted was something different, to provide a space for Sarawak’s hidden talents to be seen.
“Our exhibitors come from all sorts of backgrounds, some are engineers, some are doctors, some are students. It’s a very diverse group.
“The aim is to nurture homegrown creatives by giving them a platform to showcase their work.”
From Coffee Shop to Creative Community
The BIC Fest was not born in a gallery or boardroom. Its origins are far humbler and far more Sarawakian.
“It all began with the three of us sitting in a coffee shop, talking about how difficult it is for emerging creatives to find space to exhibit their work.
“We weren’t talking about the well-known names, but the younger generation and the up-and-coming artists who just needed an opportunity.
“So, we said, ‘Why not put together a proposal?’ And that’s really how it started, right there, over coffee,” Foo recalled with a laugh.
Of the original trio, only two remain actively involved, but the festival’s vision has grown beyond them, and beyond fine art alone.
“We’re always open to suggestions, and we hope more people will come forward to support us. be it the public, collectors, or anyone who believes in the power of local art,” Foo added.
More Than Just Paintings
While BIC Fest is often associated with paintings, the name, Borneo Illustration and Creative Festival, intentionally reflects a much broader creative vision.
“While this year’s exhibition features a lot of paintings, there’s more to it. We also showcase craft-based work, digital art, postcards, and other creative expressions.
“It’s all within the realm of fine art, but the term ‘creative’ is key. We want to expand and make the festival more inclusive and well-rounded,” Foo said.
Additionally, Foo highlighted that the exhibition encourages unity among the people of Sarawak, featuring Chinese calligraphy created by artists of other races.
That inclusivity extends beyond the visual arts: BIC Fest welcomes creatives from all disciplines, including writers, poets, and storytellers.
“We would love to involve more writers and poets. The challenge is outreach. Maybe they don’t see themselves as part of this space yet. But BIC Fest is a creative festival, and we’re open to all forms of expression,” he expressed.
BICFam: A Growing Creative Network
Beyond its physical showcase, BIC Fest is building something lasting: a creative community called BICFam, short for BIC Family.
“We welcome creatives from all backgrounds to join us. We’ve created a space we call BICFam, short for BIC Family, because we’re not just running an event, we’re building a network,” Foo shared.
This network is kept active through social media, where BIC Fest regularly shares updates, creative highlights, and open calls for submissions.
“We invite all creatives to follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @bic.fest. Every year, around three or four months before the event, which is normally held in July, we put out an open call online.
“Artists can submit their creative portfolios, and we go through a curation process before selecting who will be part of the next exhibition,” Foo said.
Growing a Festival for Sarawak – and Beyond
Now in its fourth year, BIC Fest has established itself as a fixture in Sarawak’s cultural calendar, with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak. But the team behind it has bigger dreams.
“Yes, this is our fourth year, and we’re grateful it’s recognised in the ministry’s calendar. Our hope is to grow it into something even larger, with international recognition and regional participation,” said Foo.
To realise that vision, however, the festival will need more support.
“We’re always open to collaboration. If there are stakeholders who want to get involved, we’d love to hear from them,” he said.
“There aren’t many exhibitions in Sarawak like this. We have performing arts, yes – but when it comes to fine arts and creative showcases, there’s still a lot of room to grow.”
Despite its success, organising BIC Fest remains a challenging endeavour.
“This type of exhibition is hard to scale because it doesn’t generate much revenue. We try to grow it every year, but without steady funding, it’s tough. That’s why community and collector support is so important,” he added.
Still, Foo remains optimistic.
“We hope Sarawak can one day host a creative event large enough to attract regional artists and audiences each year. Not just for fine art, but for digital art, crafts, writing, anything creative. That’s the kind of inclusive space we’re trying to build,” he said.
A Platform with Purpose
At its core, BIC Fest is about more than art; it’s about representation, connection, and growth.
It’s about building a sustainable creative landscape where everyone, regardless of their background or training, has the opportunity to share their work.
“We hope more people will come and join us. Eventually, we’d love to hand over the reins to new people who can continue and grow this festival. We’re always open to passing the torch,” Foo said.
For now, BIC Fest remains an open invitation to artists, to dreamers, and to anyone who believes creativity deserves a place to flourish in Sarawak.
The BIC Fest 2025 will be held from July 19 to August 3 at CityONE Megamall, Kuching, with opening hours from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends.
Admission is free, and all are welcome to explore and support Sarawak’s vibrant creative community.
