Sibu International Dance Festival (SIDF) is an annual event that celebrates diversity and collaboration through dancing. The 12th edition of SIDF was held from 29th August to 2nd September, 2026. Around the end of May, Architecture: University of Technology Sarawak Club (AUTS) was invited by Hornland Dance Theatre, the organiser, to conduct art installations at the Sibu Rejang Esplanade. The meeting with the organiser and AUTS representative was initiated on 13th July at the proposed site to observe and explore possibility for the arrangement of the design installation. The team was told that SIDF at the Esplanade will be on 30th to 31st August. Prior to that, all installations must be completed and displayed there.
PREPARATIONS
The idea for the art installation comes from the motion of nature, celebrating wind and natural light, symbolizing the variety of dancers who showcase their dance motion gracefully and harmoniously. Once the budget, timeline and tasks were confirmed, a painting workshop was organized for UTS foundation students to help in preparing the installation. The proposal layout of the installation arrangement had been issued to the organiser at the end of July. The proposal consists of decorating existing iron arches (responding to outdoor wind), constructing lightboxes (responding to natural light in daytime and interactively glowing at nighttime with artificial lights) and mini swans (scattered around the park to harmonize with the existing giant swan, adding patterns on it that are inspired by Borneo motifs) and also refining first-year studio project installations.
The studio project’s installations for that semester were based on Borneo Traditional Dance. The two installations were inspired by Ngajat Bebunoh from Iban and Mongigol Sumundai from Rungus. A painting workshop was held for 5 days, from marking to cutting plywood, sanding to applying undercoat and shellac, cutting the stencils to painting the motif. Finally, the mini swans and lightbox were completed successfully through the spirit of teamwork.
INSTALLATION @ SIBU REJANG ESPLANADE
On 26 August, all the art installations were transported using 2 pickup trucks to the site in the early morning. Once they arrived, the team started to decorate the iron arches using fishing net and cutting fabrics in different colours inspired by the sky. By referring to the layout arrangement, our team installed mini swans using tent pegs to lock them in place, put up two lightboxes and allocated the two installations from students' work. The challenge during that time was the haze and harsh sunlight. The team needed to work effectively to avoid spending longer time outdoors.
SIDF 2026
The event was held for 2 nights at the Esplanade, with dancers from local and international backgrounds performing on the stage, integrated with local vendors that promoted handicrafts and f&b business along the Esplanade. The public can witness the art installations blending harmoniously with the rest. Although, the event ended smoothly, from the viewpoint of the art installations, it can be better in the future if proper coordination were conducted with all parties involved and ample time provided from by organiser for AUTS to do the preparation according to the given budget.
PROJECT GALLERY
