Art Travel in Brunei — 5 Places to Discover the Country's Art and Culture

Art Travel in Brunei — 5 Places to Discover the Country’s Art and Culture

Brunei is a small but wealthy nation in Asia. An art journey here is an exploration of royal heritage, maritime trade, and the deep history of Islamic culture. From the Royal Regalia Museum, which houses dazzling royal treasures, to the Maritime Museum, which holds relics of seafaring and commerce, and the centers that preserve and study Islamic art, Brunei’s cultural heritage weaves the stories of past and present together beautifully. Visit five of Brunei’s leading exhibition spaces and discover how the country’s cultural identity was shaped by royalty, religion, and trade.

Words Pitch by Pitch
Photos Yoon Jeongvin
In collaboration with ASEAN-Korea Centre

Royal Regalia Museum
Royal Regalia Museum

The museum opened to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, with the aim of showcasing the history and splendid heritage of Brunei’s royal dynasty. The building was originally the Churchill Memorial Building. After a renovation that incorporated symbols of the Malay royal house throughout, it became Brunei’s flagship museum. Its domed roof, wrapped in golden mosaic floral ornamentation inspired by the design of the Sultan’s attire, speaks to the grandeur of the Royal Regalia Museum. Its remarkably ornate and intricate collection is another source of pride. Across four galleries, the museum introduces royal costumes, ornaments, and jewels, along with a broad survey of royal history and Brunei’s modern and contemporary past. The most eye-catching is the Royal Regalia Gallery, which conveys the majesty of the monarchy. Here you can see the royal gifts and the golden chariot used at the 1968 coronation. The documents and records that trace the Sultan’s life from childhood to accession, and the flow of Brunei’s modern history, are fascinating as well.

Opened: September 1992

Hours: Mon–Sat 9:00am–5:00pm (closed Fri), Sun 8:30am–4:30pm

Admission: 5 Brunei dollars

Address: Jalan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, Bandar Seri Begawan

SNS:    jabatanmuziummuziumbrunei

Brunei Maritime Museum
Brunei Maritime Museum

It is no exaggeration to say that the Kingdom of Brunei grew alongside the flourishing of maritime trade. A shipwreck discovered off Brunei’s coast in 1997 is a prime example showing that Brunei was once a center of seaborne commerce. In 2015, as part of the country’s ten-year national development plan, Brunei built the Maritime Museum. Set on a 3.53-hectare site, the museum presents exhibitions themed on Brunei’s maritime culture and history, including artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. Designed in the form of a ship, the museum has three galleries. The highlight is the shipwreck artifact collection, including countless ceramics and crafts, which reveals Brunei’s long trading history dating back to the 14th century. The museum’s location in Kota Batu adds to its significance, as the area is steeped in history. Kota Batu has played an important role in Brunei’s trade since the 14th century, so don’t miss the permanent exhibition on its transformation and development.

Opened: March 2015

Hours: 9:00am–5:00pm (closed Fri)

Admission: 3 Brunei dollars

Address: Simpang 482, Mukim Kota Batu, Bandar Seri Begawan

Islamic Calligraphy & Art Study Centre
The Islamic Calligraphy and Art Study Centre

This center was founded under the patronage of the Sultan of Brunei to preserve and spread Islamic art. Focused on sharing the beauty of Islamic art, it presents exhibitions that let visitors experience it from many angles, from ancient Quran manuscripts to traditional Islamic ornamentation, calligraphy works, and contemporary interior objects. It also actively pursues collaborations with artists from Islamic countries around the world and from a range of cultural backgrounds. Nurturing specialists and invigorating Islamic art through systematic education and research programs is another of the Islamic Calligraphy & Art Study Centre’s main missions. In particular, it offers courses and workshops at different levels for young people who wish to work in the field of Islamic art, and it spares no effort in providing practical support. The center houses a multipurpose hall for exhibitions and events, classrooms, and a small library, as well as a prayer room, a café, and a gift shop.

Opened: May 2020

Hours: 8:30am–5:00pm (closed Mon)

Admission: Free

Address: Rumah Semaun, Jalan Jerambak, Bandar Seri Begawan

Website:    ppkki.yshhb.org.bn

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Balai Khazanah Islam (Islamic Treasures Gallery)
Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

This gallery was established under the leadership of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to share Islamic knowledge and heritage with the world. It was designed by the internationally renowned architecture firm Pei, drawing inspiration from traditional local Bruneian architecture. Its four 60-meter towers evoke the minarets of a mosque, and the atrium recalls a mosque’s prayer hall. Beyond collecting, preserving, and exhibiting Islamic heritage, the gallery also carries out scholarly projects at its conference center and research facility, which holds more than 100,000 volumes. Its nine permanent galleries display the Sultan’s personal artifacts as well as items regarded as sacred in Islamic culture, including hair of the Prophet Muhammad, his cloak, and his sword. A variety of other Islamic heritage is also on view, including Qurans and the astronomical instruments of Islamic scholars. Upon entry, the same dress code as at local mosques applies.

Opened: October 2019

Hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed Fri)

Admission: 10 Brunei dollars

Address: Simpang 26 Jln Pengiran Babu Raja, Bandar Seri Begawan

Website:    www.bkishhb.gov.bn/SitePages/Home.aspx

Brunei Arts & Handicraft Training Centre
Brunei Arts & Handicraft Training Centre

The Brunei Arts & Handicraft Training Centre was founded in 1975 to preserve traditional crafts and support young artists. It was first located in Kampong Perpindahan Berakas, a village north of downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, before moving in 1984 to its current building, which overlooks the stilt-house community of Kampong Ayer. At its founding, the institution’s main role was to pass artisan skills on to young artists. Today, its role has expanded to displaying and selling the many different crafts of Brunei. The exhibition and sales galleries inside the center are divided into seven sections, including weaving, woodcraft, batik, Songkok (the traditional Muslim men’s cap), bronzeware, and Tenun (a weaving technique). The varied collection ranges from historical artifacts such as the swords of ancient Malay warriors to items that reveal the daily life of Bruneians, such as rattan baskets and wedding attire. Visitors can take in the captivating world of Brunei’s traditional handicrafts, preserved over many decades.

Year Opened: 1975

Hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Fridays 8:00–11:30 a.m. and 2:00–5:00 p.m.)

Admission: Free

Address: Jln Residency, Bandar Seri Begawan

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