International Journal of Applied and Creative Arts

The Influence of Dayak Culture on Artists in Sarawak: Insights from Visual Analysis and Semi-Structured Interviews

Natasha Rusdy Wong, Marzie Hatef Jalil, Faridah Binti Sahari — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This research explores the influence of Dayak culture on seven selected artists, comprising four Dayak and three non-Dayak individuals, residing in Sarawak, East Malaysia. Through semi-structured interviews, the study seeks to understand the significant inspiration that Dayak culture provides to these artists. The findings indicate a noticeable difference in the representation approaches used by each artist in depicting Dayak culture. Formal analysis of the paintings shows that Dayak artists often draw inspiration from local flora, fauna, and landscapes, leading to more abstract representations, whereas non-Dayak artists, influenced by their observations and research, tend to focus on figurative depictions, including traditional Dayak lifestyles and cultural elements like headgear and beads.

Study On the Function and Strategy of Public Facilities Design in the Construction of Xinyang City Cultural Brand

Wei Zhang, Mastika b. Lamat — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

As an important part of the city, public facilities symbolize the city's image and a good carrier of regional culture. Excellent public facility design plays an important role in the construction of city cultural brands, which can highlight the city's cultural identity and enhance the recognition of cultural brands by shaping the image. However, as an important cultural city, the design of public facilities in Xinyang City fails to highlight the characteristics of the city's cultural brands. Therefore, this study aims to explain the role of city public facilities in the construction of city cultural brands, introduce excellent design practice cases, and then analyze the design status quo of Xinyang city public facilities, to provide targeted strategies and suggestions for the design of Xinyang city public facilities, and finally promote the sustainable development and the promotion of the cultural brand for Xinyang city.

From Tradition to Modernity: Digital Expressions in the Preservation and Inheritance of New Year Paintings

Xin Zhang, Valerie Anak Michael, Shahrunizam bin Sulaiman — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The China New Year Paintings are folk painting that evolved from farming culture. It once fell into a cultural depression and nearly died out. With the joint efforts of the government, artists and researchers, the art of it has been preserved and inheritance. In order to verify whether the digitization of New Year Paintings can solve the low social awareness and confusing cultural dissemination problems, this paper reviews the literature of scholars, introduces the co-occurrence matrix and comparative learning framework, using Co-occurrence Matrix Analysis and Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) for similarity analysis, compares the attempts made by artists through digitization and identify the digital representation and outcomes of the New Year Paintings by examining the frequency and similarity of keyword occurrences. This paper compares and discusses the attempts made by artists through digitalization by reviewing the literature of scholars, introducing the co-occurrence matrix and comparative learning framework, and conducting similarity analysis. The results of this study show that New Year Paintings can be reasonably disseminated and accepted, thereby generating more diverse interpretations and applications. This study has sorted out the digital expressions of New Year paintings, broadened the research horizon, and provided ideas for subsequent conservation research.

Ethical Considerations for Anthropomorphic Character Portrayal in Artificial Intelligence-Driven Computer Animation

Jinman Sun, Sharkawi Che Din — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This paper addresses the ethical issues involved in the portrayal of anthropomorphic characters in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven computer animation. Drawing from Dr. David Leslie's comprehensive analysis of the potential harms caused by AI systems, six key issues are identified-though they differ somewhat from our findings in the context of animation. This study adopts a phenomenological hermeneutic approach, summarizing the ethical concerns related to the anthropomorphic design of AI-driven animated characters through the analysis of representative films and expert interviews. The key issues include algorithmic discrimination and bias, transparency and deception, the marginalization of human labor through innovation, responsibility and accountability, privacy concerns regarding original creators, and social impact. In response to these issues, we present a framework for the sustainable development of AI in animation. This framework serves as a guide for the responsible use of AI technology in animation, promoting a balance between AI innovation and ethical considerations, while supporting the long-term sustainability of the animation industry.

The Poja Bugis Dance in Selangor: Cultural Re-Creation and Identity Formation

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This study investigates the evolution and re-creation of the Poja Bugis dance in Selangor as a pivotal mechanism for cultural identity formation within the Bugis community. Despite its prominence in state ceremonies, the dance remains critically under-documented and lacks comprehensive academic analysis. This study employs a qualitative case study methodology and draws on semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and rigorous document analysis to examine its development. The theoretical framework synthesizes Shils’ conceptualization of tradition, Hobsbawm and Ranger’s "invention of tradition," and Hall’s theory of cultural identity. The findings indicate that the Poja dance emerged through a process of cultural adaptation and reconstruction from the Pakkuru Sumange dance of South Sulawesi, shaped significantly by the institutional, political, and social dynamics of Selangor. The study further demonstrates that the dance embodies the concept of "identity as becoming," whereby cultural identity is continually negotiated and reconstructed within a diasporic context. This research significantly contributes to the discourse on cultural sustainability, ethnic identity construction, and the politics of heritage performance in Malaysia.

Emotional Design in Packaging: Enhancing the Unboxing Experience

Saiful Hairi Othman, Musdi Shanat — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The unboxing experience has become a vital touchpoint for consumer engagement with the rise of e-commerce and digital platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Originally meant to protect products, packaging now functions as a multi-sensory brand interaction shaping first impressions and loyalty. However, limited research explores how emotional design principles enhance unboxing experiences, particularly for technology and limited-edition products. This study applies Donald Norman’s emotional design framework visceral, behavioural, and reflective levels to examine how packaging creates meaningful and memorable interactions. A qualitative thematic case study analyses nine high-engagement YouTube unboxing videos of premium technology products to capture authentic consumer perceptions. Findings show that packaging integrating sensory appeal, usability, and brand storytelling increases perceived value and encourages user-generated content. Such integration turns unboxing into an emotionally resonant experience that strengthens brand relationships. The study emphasizes packaging as a strategic tool for improving satisfaction, loyalty, and organic brand promotion.

Cross-Media Translation of Chinese Opera Cultural Genes in Popular Music

Xueyun Geng, Marlenny Deenerwan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

In an era shaped by digital transformation and renewed engagement with traditional culture, the question of how Chinese opera continues to function within contemporary media environments has gained increasing relevance. This study examines the cross-media translation of Chinese opera cultural elements in popular music, focusing on how these elements are adapted and restructured within modern musical forms. Drawing on a combination of literature review, audience survey, and multi-platform case observation, the research analyzes the evolving role of Chinese opera in popular music contexts. The findings indicate that the integration of elements follows a gradual trajectory: from symbolic citation to structural incorporation, and ultimately to technologically mediated recombination. At the same time, this process is shaped by platform-specific conditions. Certain operatic genres are more frequently represented, audience expectations of integration vary across cultural backgrounds, and complex operatic structures are often simplified within short-form, high-frequency media formats. Rather than framing these changes as a process of loss or preservation, this study interprets them as adaptive transformations driven by the interaction of artistic form, media technology, and cultural context. In doing so, it provides a clearer account of how Chinese opera continues to evolve and maintain relevance within contemporary media ecosystems.

The Ontology of Watercolour Painting from A Heideggerian Perspective: A Case Study of Nantong Clock Tower Square

Changhang Yan, Mohd Fuad Md Arif — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This paper approaches watercolour painting through a focused Heideggerian ontological framework, concentrating on the interrelated moments of material concealment, the establishment of the work, and the unconcealment of truth as articulated in The Origin of the Work of Art. These moments are treated not as an exhaustive metaphysical system, but as a structural logic through which an artwork comes into presence. Positioned at the level of medium rather than philosophy per se, the study examines how the interaction of paper, water, and pigment renders this ontological sequence experientially and medially legible within watercolour practice. Ontology is thus approached neither as a theoretical abstraction nor as a method to be applied, but as a visible and reconstructable order of pictorial events through which a work establishes itself as a site of truth.

Exploring How Brand Engagement and Experience Drive Brand Loyalty Through Word-of-Mouth Intention

BaoYin Hu, Qistina Donna Lee Abdullah — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Festival branding has become increasingly important in enhancing visitors’ loyalty and sustaining the competitiveness of cultural events. However, limited studies have examined the combined effects of brand engagement and brand experience on brand loyalty in festival contexts, particularly through the mediating role of word-of-mouth (WOM) intention. This study aims to examine the effects of brand engagement and brand experience on brand loyalty at the Jinan Spring Water Festival, as well as the mediating role of WOM intention in these relationships. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected from 197 respondents who participated in the Jinan Spring Water Festival. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS to evaluate the proposed relationships and mediation effects. The findings reveal that both brand engagement and brand experience significantly and positively influence brand loyalty. In addition, WOM intention partially mediates the relationships between brand engagement, brand experience, and brand loyalty. The study highlights the importance of developing engaging and experiential festival activities while encouraging positive WOM communication to strengthen audience loyalty. The findings contribute to the literature on festival branding and provide practical guidance for festival organizers seeking to enhance brand value and long-term visitor loyalty.

Interactive Animation for Kidney Donation Awareness Campaign in Malaysia

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This study investigates the use of interactive animation as an awareness campaign tool to address low participation in kidney donation in Malaysia, particularly among the Malay community. It aims to (1) examine public perceptions and understanding of kidney donation, (2) develop an interactive animation based on audience preferences and expert insights, and (3) evaluate its effectiveness in communicating health-related information. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a semi-structured interview with a transplant expert and a questionnaire survey involving 50 participants. The animation adopts a “choose-your-own-adventure” narrative structure, allowing users to engage in simulated decision-making scenarios related to organ donation. The findings indicate that while general awareness exists, communication gaps and misconceptions continue to remain major barriers. The interactive animation received positive responses in terms of visual appeal, engagement, and effectiveness of information delivery, suggesting its potential to enhance audience involvement and comprehension. Overall, the study demonstrates that integrating interactive storytelling with visual communication offers a promising approach for culturally sensitive health awareness campaigns, although further research with broader samples and extended platforms is recommended.

Staging Yuan Zaju: Adaptation of Autumn In the Han Palace (汉宫秋) in Xinchang Diaoqiang Opera

Yu Qin Ng, Hooi See Teoh — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Drawing on Susan Bennett’s reception theory (Bennett, 2003), this paper adopts a spectator-oriented qualitative approach to explore Diaoqiang’s adaptation of Autumn in the Han Palace (汉宫秋). As one of the oldest surviving theatrical forms, dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), Diaoqiang is often described as a living fossil of Chinese opera and is especially renowned for its capacity to stage classical repertoires such as Autumn in the Han Palace. Focusing on stage arrangements, extra-daily bodily movements, and the soundscape of this adaptation, this paper argues that the Diaoqiang troupe seeks to balance the pursuit of archaeological reconstruction, as theorised by Pavis (2013) with contemporary audience reception. Rather than treating Diaoqiang merely as a means of preserving the classical canon, this paper draws attention to the troupe’s efforts to engage modern audiences, a perspective frequently overlooked in existing scholarship. This study concludes that the Diaoqiang troupe is committed to negotiating the tension between traditional conventions and contemporary audience reception by introducing their own interpretative elements into gaps in the original text, thereby making the classic more accessible to contemporary spectators.