Borneo Heart presents the work of Kota Kinabalu-born and based artist Yee I-Lann, made in collaboration with weavers, filmmakers, dancers, other fellow creative producers and friends. It offers a shared platform and a site of exchange for the peoples of tanah (land) and air (water/sea), and for traditional and contemporary art practices. Borneo Heart celebrates the possibility of creating new spaces, aesthetic languages and shared ideas through conversation and collaboration.

The physical exhibition Borneo Heart, held at Sabah International Convention Centre, was first held from 2 to 28 May 2021, and visitors can continue to enjoy the show via its own dedicated page here and through this website.

Many of the works from the exhibition have travelled on and out to different exhibitions around the world and you can track their Further Journeys, perhaps to a site near you. You can also read articles and interviews and listen to conversations on and about the mat in Sharing the Tikar.

From January to June 2023, in the year of the 60th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia, Borneo Heart travels to the Peninsula, or “Semenanjung”. Borneo Heart in Kuala Lumpur is a sharing of tikar with six wonderful spaces/organisations/communities in the capital, encompassing exhibitions, workshops, talks, a tamu and a book launch. We’re very excited and honoured to be working with The Zhongshan Building, The Back Room, A+ Works of Art, ILHAM Gallery and Rumah Lukis on this new adventure. Together, we hope to welcome you in KL.