Sarawak launches first AI art gallery celebrating student innovation

The International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak 2025 (IDECS25) will shine a spotlight on Sarawak’s young creative minds through the Digital Art Gallery 2025 (DAG25): AI Artventure, an innovative exhibition that merges art, education, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Set to take place from 22 to 26 October 2025 at Balai Rong Hall, Makeramai Makerspace, Plaza Merdeka, Kuching, the showcase — powered by Crave Asia Sdn Bhd — promises to be a highlight of IDECS25. It marks Sarawak’s first large-scale AI-driven art experience that transforms student artwork into immersive digital creations.

Youth creativity meets artificial intelligence

At the heart of DAG25 lies an ambitious concept — turning students’ original art into living, evolving digital masterpieces. Using AI technology, the submitted artworks will be reimagined and projected onto a five-metre interactive digital wall, offering visitors an engaging visual journey that fuses human creativity with machine learning.

“DAG25 is not just about showcasing art; it is about showing the world what Sarawak stands for,” said Amirrul Rizwan Mohd Abd Hafiz, Lead Secretariat of IDECS25. “By bringing together the imagination of our youth and the power of AI, we are proving that technology can be inclusive, inspiring, and transformative. This exhibition is a statement of our commitment to nurturing digital talent from the ground up and positioning Sarawak as a regional leader in creativity, innovation, and sustainable digital growth.”

Themed “Green Planet”, the AI Artventure Competition invites students and members of the public to create artworks inspired by environmental sustainability. Submissions will be digitally enhanced by AI and displayed at the exhibition, with each entry featuring the artist’s name and school, transforming the gallery into a vibrant, collaborative space of imagination and innovation.

Learning zones to inspire future innovators

Participants stand to win RM15,000 worth of prizes sponsored by Wonderpark, including a 65” Interactive iBoard for the school with the most entries and iPads for students with the most creative AI artworks. All participants will receive an e-certificate and a digital copy of their AI-enhanced artwork. Public participants are also eligible to win an iPad.

To complement the exhibition, four interactive STEAM zones — focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics — will offer hands-on experiences to spark curiosity and learning among young visitors:

• Art Zone: Drawing and colouring sessions
• Engineering Zone: Magnetic block activities
• Construction Zone: Lego building challenges
• Craft Zone: Beadwork and creative crafts

These zones aim to nurture creativity while introducing participants to the possibilities of AI and digital innovation.

Where creativity meets play

Visitors can also unwind and explore the Makeramai Playzone, located within the Makeramai Makerspace, a creative hub established by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) at Plaza Merdeka. The playzone will feature Nintendo Switch games, Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, and 3D Pen activities, giving visitors a playful taste of how technology fuels imagination and innovation.

By merging art, AI, and education, DAG25 reflects Sarawak’s vision of building a future-ready digital society. The free exhibition is open to everyone and serves as a testament to the state’s drive to empower its youth through creativity and technology.

Those interested in joining the AI Artventure Competition can submit their artwork via www.aigenius.com.my/dag2025 for a chance to have it transformed and featured on Sarawak’s largest digital art wall.

For more details, visit www.idecs.com.my or follow @idecs25 on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram for updates.