Curtin student reimagines Iban folklore through immersive comic installation

Miri, Sarawak – 4 March 2026 – A traditional Iban folk hero has leapt from oral legend into vivid comic panels, transforming a community library in Miri into a living canvas of culture, research and creative innovation.

Master’s student Britto Augustus from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has reinterpreted the legendary Iban character Apai Alui through a contemporary comic installation titled ‘Apai Alui Becomes A Shaman.’ The exhibition, held from 10 to 28 February 2026 at the Miri City Council (MCC) Lutong Community Library, drew community members, cultural advocates and policymakers into a vibrant dialogue between heritage and modern visual storytelling.

Hailing from Tamil Nadu, India, Britto’s practice-based research project pushes the boundaries of how indigenous narratives can be preserved and reimagined. By translating the wit and wisdom of Apai Alui into a dynamic visual format, he offers a fresh lens on Sarawak’s storytelling traditions – one that resonates with younger audiences and global readers alike.

The exhibition’s closing ceremony was officiated by Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I (Tourism), who praised the initiative as a powerful example of Sarawak’s growing creative economy in action.

“We aren’t just looking at drawings on a wall; we are witnessing the evolution of Sarawakian storytelling,” he said. “For the Orange Economy to thrive, we need practitioners like Britto who are willing to do the practice-based research that connects culture with innovation.”

Highlighting the project’s global relevance, Ting added that seeing Apai Alui interpreted through the eyes of an international creative practitioner provides Sarawakians with renewed appreciation for their own traditions.

Also present from Curtin Malaysia’s Head of Library Christina Urai Dang, senior lecturer Dr. Noraisikin Sabani and other faculty members, as well as representatives from the Dayak Association Miri and staff of the MCC Lutong Community Library, underscoring the strong collaboration between academia and the local community.

Terry Justin Dit, Interim Head of the Department of Media and Communication at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, emphasised that the exhibition exemplifies the university’s commitment to community-engaged scholarship.

“This project bridges the gap between high-level research and the community it represents. By bringing creative work out of the classroom and into public spaces, we make research accessible, meaningful and impactful,” said Terry.

More than an art display, the installation turned the library into an interactive cultural hub, demonstrating that heritage is not static, but a living narrative capable of evolving across mediums and borders.

As Sarawak positions itself as a regional creative powerhouse, initiatives like this signal how traditional stories can find new life, not only in books and galleries, but in the hearts of future generations.

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Datuk Ting (centre) with Terry (6th right) and Britto, Dr Noraisikin, Christina Urai, members of Dayak Association Miri and staff of MCC Lutong Community Library.

Britto (2nd left) presenting a dummy copy of ‘Apai Alui Becomes A Shaman’ to Datuk Ting, witnessed by Terry (right) and Dr Noraisikin.

Britto (right) signing a copy of his comic as Datuk Ting (left), Jaqueline Selaka of Dayak Association Miri and Terry look on.