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RAVE REVIEWS FOR IBAN TEXTILES IN INDIA
Iban Textiles of Sarawak are
receiving rave reviews among Indians in New Delhi
and Ahmedabad during the ongoing exhibition tour
organized by Society Atelier Sarawak President, Mr
Edric Ong. Held first at the prestigious Indira
Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA), the
collection of antique pieces of jackets, skirts,
ceremonial ‘pua kumbu’ and contemporary silk
hangings was exhibited as part of the Festival of
Sacred Art curated by Mdm Jasleen Dhamija, renowned
Indian scholar and cultural authority.
The Festival included evening
musical performances of sacred music and a lecture
series where Edric Ong presented a paper on ‘The Sun
and Moon motif in Iban Textiles’.
The Textile collection was then
expanded for a larger exhibition at the National
Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Organised by Textile Art and Fashion Forum (TAFF),
the contemporary silk ‘pua kumbu’ aroused a lot of
interest amongst the visitors. Although India has a
heritage of ‘ikat’ weaving; and Patan in Gujarat
being the home of the famous double-ikat weaving,
people were astonished to see such fine warp-ikat
weavings in the ‘pua kumbu’. A lecture on Iban
Textiles at the NID Auditorium was well attended by
faculty lecturers, students and the public.
“This is the second time that I
have exhibited Iban Textiles in India. Previously we
have shown them in New Delhi with the Delhi Crafts
Council; and then in Hyderabad at the Andhra Pradesh
State Art Gallery” added Edric Ong.
The exhibition in Ahmedabad
continued at the Harita Kapur Gallery, and will be
exhibited in Baroda next month.
NID opening |
NID opening |
Delhi Pua |
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The Pua Kumbu exhibition display at NID,
Ahmedabad |
NID Pua |
NID Pua |
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Edric Ong poses with Asif Shaikh, renowned
Indian embroidery artist. |
Edric ong (right) conducts Mr Pradyumna Vyas
, Director of NID |
Mati Ghar Delhi |
NID Pua |
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EMIL
HAMLYN TO SING AT ATELIER
To wrap up the Atelier Arts Week
and to celebrate the New Year, Emil Hamlyn will be
performing at Society Atelier Sarawak (Rumah Masra)
in Kuching on Jan 1st beginning at 7.30pm.
Emil, a renowned personality on
television and radio, is a popular singer especially
at official functions of the Sarawak state
government. He has also received invitations to
perform regionally eg in Philippines and Indonesia.
“I will be singing some classical
numbers by Broery Marantika, P. Ramlee, Michael
Buble and Josh Groban” disclosed Emil. Among his
much requested repertoire of songs are also some
Iban and Bidayuh pop songs.
An Atelier spokesman said that
there will also be a guest appearance by Dona
Drury-Wee and talented members of the Society that
evening.
A special Arts and Crafts
exhibition is on-going at the first floor of the
Atelier premises. Entrance is free; and refreshments
are available at De’Atelier Bistro.
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De' Atelier
Bistro Opens!
Society Atelier Sarawak is proud
to announce the opening of De’ Atelier Bistro at
Rumah Masra, our Headquarters, Jalan Taman Budaya
Kuching!
Operated by our members, Albert
and Evelyn Kho, home cooked cuisine such as satay,
stew, noodles, carrot cake etc is served from 3 p.m.
till midnight daily except Thursday (off day). Free
wi-fi connection is available too.
Every Sunday De’ Atelier Bistro
features specialties by their Guest Chefs.
Recently, De’ Atelier Bistro
hosted two evenings with Malaysian stand-up comics
Papi Zack and Andrew Nitto.
Look out for more forthcoming
interesting events!
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Sarawak ‘Pua Kumbu’ in London Exhibition
Sarawak’s famous “Pua Kumbu’
textiles by the Iban weavers of Rumah Garie
longhouse, Ulu Kapit will be exhibited at the
Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London from
26th May-5th June. Announcing this today, Mr Edric
Ong, President of Society Atelier Sarawak said that
this will be the largest exhibition of contemporary
Iban textiles to be shown in England.
“Our co-organiser, Jason Gathorne Hardy (Lord
Medway) had presented a lovely piece of silk Pua
Kumbu to His Highness Prince Charles last year.
Since then and through our contact at the Prince’s
School of Traditional Arts, Ms Patricia Araneta, the
exhibition themed as “Woven Dreams” is now being
realized” added Mr Ong.
The exhibition will be officially launched by the
Malaysian High Commissioner to Great Britain on 26th
May. Over 50 pieces of Iban textiles will be on
show. Master weaver, Mdm Nancy Ak. Ngali , from
Rumah Garie will be demonstrating her back-strap
loom weaving during the entire duration of the
exhibition which will also be a celebration of the
cultural arts, forests and indigenous foods of
Sarawak. Mr Edric Ong will also be presenting talks
on the Iban Textiles.
A special evening’s programme is also planned on
28th May at Asia House where experts will be
discussing on “Sustainability in Sarawak: Foods,
Fabrics and Forests”. The British Malaysian Society
will also be organizing the Sarawak Lunch on 5th
June at the Awana Restaurant where a special
presentation on the Bario and Kelabit Highlands Food
and Cultural Festival will be made.
The ‘Woven Dreams’ event is supported by the Sarawak
Convention Bureau and the Sarawak Tourism Board as a
promotional event to draw British and European
tourists and delegates to the 2010 World Eco-Fiber
and Textile (WEFT) Forum and the Bario Food
Festival.
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SARAWAK WINS TOP INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AWARD
Sarawak’s Iban ‘pua kumbu’ has won the top textile
prize at the recent World Crafts Council Assembly
held in Hangzhou, China from 4-10th Nov. The
hand-woven , natural dyed silk textile entitled
‘Floral Baskets’ or “Sempuyong Bunga” by Teresa
Sawin of Rumah Garie, Sungai Kain, Ulu Kapit was
selected by an international jury out of over eighty
entries in the Asia Pacific region in the Young
Craftspersons (under 35 years old) category.
At the Award ceremony in Hangzhou, Mr Edric Ong,
President of Society Atelier Sarawak, received the
award on behalf of the weaver. He said that this was
another feather in the cap for the weavers of Rumah
Garie who has persistently produced high quality
textile art; and the master weavers have won
numerous international awards already. This is the
first time that a young weaver has won an
international prize.
At the World Crafts Council Assembly, Mr Ong was
also appointed the Vice President for Asia Pacific.
The International President is Mrs Usha Krishna of
India, and the Asia Pacific President is Mrs Surapee
Rojanavongse of Thailand.
Edric Ong (center) receiving
the Textile Award from Zhejiang Provincial
Governor(right)
witnessed by Mdm Surapee |
Detail of the prize textile by Teresa Sawin |
Teresa Sawin |
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CELEBRITIES AND STARS AT WEFT GALA FASHION SHOW
Kuching is buzzing with the news that
several celebrities and stars will be coming for the
Gala Fashion show and dinner of the 5th World
Eco-Fiber and Textile Forum on Saturday 13th
September organised under the patronage of YABhg.
Datuk Amar Puan Sri Laila Taib, wife of the Chief
Minister of Sarawak. Among the celebrities confirmed
are
Miss Malaysia Gloria Ting;
Mr
International Alan Bianco of Brazil; Gillian
Hung, President of MODA and other surprises!
The WEFT Forum 2008 is part of
the Programme to celebrate Sarawak’s 45th
Annniversary of Independence in Malaysia.
It is estimated that around 300
foreign and local delegates will participate in the
WEFT Forum. The 3 day event includes the Forum which
has 20 speakers; the Gala Dinner/International
Fashion Show; the International Crafts Bazaar and
Exhibition of Malaysian Fiber Crafts and Textiles at
the Sarawak Tourism Complex Main Hall; and the Iban
‘Pua Kumbu’ competition
Among the International Designers
taking part in the Gala International Fashion Show
are:
1. Achmad Sopandi - Indonesia
2. Alfonso Guino-O - Philippines
3. Galen Hogan - Singapore
4. Penporn Jnchaya - Thailand
5. Joan Sung - Korea
6. Bina Rao - India
7. Olivia Batchelder - USA
8. Indonesian Women’s Association
9. Edric Ong - Malaysia
10. Anggun - Malaysia
11. Fabriko - Malaysia
12. Winnie Wong - Malaysia
13. Kraftangan Malaysia
14. UNIMAS
Mr. International
Alan Bianco of Brazil |
Miss Malaysia Gloria
Ting |
The Gala event also includes the
hair show by Inspiration Alan Salon; with make up by
Lady Jenn Group. Vicki Fong will choreograph the
show that includes over 30 top notch models!
Renowned vocalists Emily Hamlyn, Billy Tan and
Felicia Gek will take to the stage of the Civic
Center to present their latest hits.
Sponsors include:
YAYASAN SARAWAK, TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD, CAHYA MATA
SARAWAK BERHAD, CMS CEMENT BERHAD, X-FAB, GALERI
PETRONAS, SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD, SARAWAK CONVENTION
BUREAU, KRAFTANGAN MALAYSIA, CRAFTS COUNCIL OF
MALAYSIA, AHPADA.
This WEFT Gala will be the
red-carpet event to watch out for! For tickets call
SOCIETY ATELIER SARAWAK: 420042
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“MODEL SEARCH” for GALA INTERNATIONAL FASHION
SHOW
In the run-up to the
Gala International Fashion Show of the WEFT Forum
which will be held on Saturday 13 September at the
State Civic Center, the organizers are now embarking
on a “Model Search”.
Ms. Vicki Fong, Choreographer for the Show is now
inviting those interested to be trained as models to
apply at a walk-in interview at the Edric Ong
Gallery and Artrageously Ramsay Ong Gallery, 94 & 98
Main Bazaar Kuching (Tel: 424346 and 420042) on
Sunday 3, 10, 17 and 24 August from 2.00-4.00 p.m.
Selected models will undergo training and will
also be featured in special press promotions for the
WEFT Forum 2008.
Photo: Models at the August 3rd Interview |
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TRUE BLUE- INDIGO
Do you know that the blue colour of the original
blue denim jeans comes from a plant?
Well, it does; from the leaves of a plant known as
‘indigofera tinctoria’ and ‘marsdenia tinctoria’-
better known as ‘tarum’ or ‘rengat’ in Iban
language. This is the same natural dye colours that
weavers of the Iban ‘pua-kumbu’ textiles us in the
longhouses of Sarawak. The
upcoming ‘World Eco-Fiber and Textile’ or WEFT Forum
to be held in Kuching from 12-14th September under
the distinguished patronage of YABhg Datuk Amar Puan
Sri Laila Taib will find many international
scholars, researchers and designers deliberating
about the ‘UNTOLD STORIES’ in textiles and fibers.
Indigo will be one of the stories.
For centuries, indigo dye was
known as the ‘blue gold’ an important export
commodity from the Indian subcontinent to Europe and
abroad. Today its commercial value is replaced by
synthetic indigo dyes. However the beauty and health
reasons for using natural indigo dyes is seeing a
revival of its usage especially in our more
environmentally conscious world of today.
Some of the models participating in the Gala Dinner
and International Fashion Show on 13 September at
the Kuching Civic Center posed for some photos in
natural indigo fashion by Edric Ong at his gallery
along Main Bazaar. Tickets for the
event will be available next week from Artrageously
Ramsay Ong, Edric Ong Gallery, Fabriko, and Anggun
boutique.
Natural indigo ‘tarum’ leaves |
Nigerian Chris Amadi models
a special Hmong hill-tribe robe |
Hector wears an indigo
‘pua kumbu’ sash;
Lucy in an indigo ikat
cotton pantsuit |
Julian (right) in handwoven
hemp batik jacket; Janet in
a Bina Rao gold print ensemble |
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