SPECIAL EXHIBITION
ON ISLAMIC ARTS FROM MALAYSIA AT NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Minister of Tourism
and Culture, Shri Jagmohan today inaugurated a special exhibition
at National Museum entitled ‘Cultural Treasures: Textiles of
the Malay World’ from the collection of the Islamic Arts Museum,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The High Commissioner of Malaysia H.E.
Dato S.K. Choo was also present on the occasion.
The Malay world encompasses
a vast area, from the Malay Peninsula and portions of adjacent
islands of South East Asia, including the east coast of Sumatra,
the coast of Borneo, and smaller islands that lie between these
areas. Populated by groups of people with unique cultural diversity.
Hindu-Buddhist culture played a pivotal role in the history of
the Malay world and the development of the arts and culture in
this region.
Textiles have always
played a very significant role in the social, economic and religious
life of the people of any country including the Malay world. Textile
weaving in Malaysia has come a long way from its earliest roots.
In course of time, the Malay world has been exposed to different
foreign influences, such as Indian, Chinese, Islamic, Portuguese,
Dutch etc. which have left their traces specially in weaving,
embroidery, design and pattern employed in the textile tradition
of this region.
The Malays accepted
such assimilations of culture as part of their diverse and yet
unified cultural inheritance. In the art of textile design, the
Islamisation of the Malay world had profoundly affected the iconographical
and the functions of textiles in the Malay society. The influence
of Indian culture and civilisation may also be seen in some of
the techniques used in the Malay world, the well-known double-ikat
from Gujarat, for instance.
The Malay people
have a preference for such costumes and clothing, which suits
the climatic conditions of the Malay region. Silk and cotton are
the most preferred material for making sarongs, which are perhaps
the most important traditional garments of the Malay world. Normally,
the dress for a man was the seluar(trousers) and baju melayu(shirt),
while headgear was optional.
Costumes and clothing
for men and women were often rich in colour, designs and patterns,
which were prepared using different techniques such as dyeing,
weaving, embroidery, etc. Garments, fabrics and other items of
practical use often have significant value, expressed by the colours
and ornamentation used for their design. Motifs may have religious
or ceremonial functions to indicate the power or the social status
of the owner. The symbolic meaning of a design or motif is as
important as its ornamental value or sometimes even more so.
This exhibition comprises
66 exhibits, which reflect upon a variety of costumes and accessories
illustrating the rich tradition of Malay art and craft. The exhibition
will also showcase fine example of such stately clothes and costumes
which aptly portray the traditional Malay craftsperson’s devotion
to quality, aesthetic awareness and creativity imbued with enduring
values. The most outstanding exhibits are Dagger for male, Sulawesi,
Indonesia, 17-18 century, steel, ivory, silver; Sarong, Malay
Archipelago, c.L19-E20th century, cotton, telepuk; Limar sarong,
Terengganu, Malay Peninsula, c. 19-20 century, silk and Shawl,
Malay Archipelago, c. L. 19-E 20th century, cotton
telepuk. This exposition will remain open to the public till May
11, 2003.
