KOTA SAMARAHAN: The fusion of traditional art and artificial intelligence (AI) takes centre stage at the Exhibition of Creativity, Innovation, Technology and Research in the Arts (eCITRA) 2025 at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
Themed ‘Duality: Between the Physical and Virtual Worlds’, this year’s exhibition explores how creative expression continues to evolve alongside technology while preserving artistic authenticity and cultural identity.
The exhibition showcases more than 30 academic artworks – including paintings, sculptures, mixed media and digital installations – that reflect the richness of Bornean ideas and culture.
UNIMAS Arts Management lecturer, Mohd Sharizam Hamzah, said AI represented an important technological shift that the new generation of artists must embrace without losing sight of their roots.
“AI is the way forward but we must also stay true to our origins by understanding our identity.
“The blend between art and technology must be harmonised so we don’t lose our essence as artists,” he said.
Sharizam added that AI had helped simplify creative processes and expand artistic possibilities, allowing creators to produce innovative works more efficiently.
He expressed hope that participants would take full advantage of the exhibition to explore emerging tools and gain meaningful exposure to new forms of artistic creation.
Meanwhile, UNIMAS senior lecturer, Dr Rahah Hasan, said the combination of traditional art and AI demonstrated how local artists were adapting to the global shift toward modern and ultramodern art movements.
She noted that eCITRA provided opportunities for students and the public to better understand how tradition and technology could coexist and shape the future of the creative arts.
“We are striving to align art with the mindset of the new generation — integrating technology into crafts, culture and heritage so they can be expressed through modern art.
“This shows that artists today are moving in step with technology, giving deeper meaning to the convergence between art and innovation,” she added.
