Kota Kinabalu: Following the success of their first immersive exhibition, curator Melanie Chin returns with a second installation, giving artists a platform to express their freedom through their works.
“The first exhibition, held in April, recorded an encouraging 197 visitors over two days. The short duration was aimed at gauging public response before extending future exhibitions,” said Melanie during the opening of the Unbound of Fabric and Bloom exhibition at Sutera Bay.
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The exhibition, running until the end of February 2026, will take visitors on a journey curated by local talents Melissa Mok Jia Ying, a fashion designer; Crystal Lee, a florist; and Jeremy Wong, an architect.
“We expect visitor numbers to grow, especially next year during the Visit Malaysia campaign, which will help us promote our Sabahan artists. We also hope more students will be exposed to these different forms of art,” said Melanie.
Sabah Youth Network Creative (SYNC) Treasurer Jeremiah Mojuntin, who launched the exhibition, said the installation art scene is relatively new locally, although not unfamiliar internationally.
“This initiative provides artists with a platform to express themselves freely, while also sending a broader message that there is space for alternative forms of creativity in the city,” he said.
Rather than being confined to conventional or generic creative professions, artists are encouraged to explore new modes of expression, he added.
He said this helps broaden public perspectives and enhances appreciation for diverse creative activities and events.
He noted that the emergence of installation art reflects a committed and growing creative community striving to sustain this form of artistic expression in Kota Kinabalu.
On public response, he said the support has been encouraging, with growing interest and acceptance from the wider community towards this evolving art scene.
In explaining her creation, Melissa said her collection, titled I Just Want to Live in the Mountains and Eat Sushi, reflects a desire to escape societal expectations and creative pressures.
She explained that the collection was created not for commercial purposes, but to express freedom and personal vision. The bold silhouettes and red tones symbolise liberation from external demands.
While the designs are currently runway pieces, more wearable versions are expected to be released.
Melissa hopes visitors will feel inspired to reconnect with their own creativity and imagine their personal version of freedom.
For Crystal, her artwork Overlook Grace captures moments in everyday life that often go unnoticed.
“The small things we miss, but later realise are important — these little moments are usually what stay with us in the long run,” she said.
Jeremy, who co-curated his works with Melanie titled Field of Voices, said they spent four months planning this exhibition, which is their first immersive installation in Kota Kinabalu.
“Unlike regular exhibitions where artworks are simply placed on walls and visitors walk from one piece to another, we integrate the artworks into the space itself,” he said.
