An Unexpected Encounter by the Sea: Life, Art, and Solitude at the UMS Gallery 🎨🌊

#kotakinabalutrip Azman Hashim UMS Gallery is located within Universiti Malaysia Sabah, just 1–2 km from the coast—and stumbling upon it felt like fate. Originally, I entered the campus with the simple goal of snapping photos of the iconic pink mosque. At the entrance, I bought a ticket and received a small sightseeing map, which pointed out various attractions around the university. To my surprise, one of them was an art gallery! I hesitated for a second but decided to check it out—and it turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of my trip. While the exhibitions mainly featured local art (so don’t go in expecting the Louvre), the architecture alone was worth the visit. The gallery has a beautiful industrial-minimalist vibe—raw cement walls and floors paired with warm wooden elements and splashes of color. The aesthetics were just so well-balanced. Even the broom at the entrance somehow looked adorable. The building itself is shaped like a massive circular compass, with a staircase and elevator in the center that takes you up to a viewing platform. From there, you can see the sea not too far in the distance. In the courtyard stands a single tree—quiet, poised, facing the building. It instantly brought to mind the phrase: “a solitary tree.” Maybe it’s because this place is so underrated, but the entire experience was calm and serene. The only sounds were the wind rustling through the grass and the occasional gasp of awe I let out as I wandered through. This gallery felt like a space designed for quiet thinking, slow breathing, and mindful appreciation. I’ll definitely be missing it. ✨ #travel