Page 102 - The Guide To Sarawak

100 THE ARTS
The ISEND-WEFT 2012 Opening Ceremony - (from left) Edric Ong (President, Society Atelier Sarawak), YB Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D’Cruz (Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Malaysia), his wife Datin Juliana, YB Hajjah Nancy Shukri (Chairperson, ISEND-WEFT 2012 and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia), Mdm Surapee Rojanavongse (Hon. President, World Crafts Council Asia Pacific), Dr Supanee Chayaputra (President, ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association) and Dato’ Kamil Mohd Ali (Director General, Kraftangan Malaysia).
Traditional Arts - Events & Happenings
World Eco-Fibre and Textile (WEFT) Forum
WEFT is one of the world’s leading forums on natural fibres, dyes and materials used in textiles and other woven arts, and is dedicated to promoting the sustainable use of natural materials
and traditional skills in the creation of arts and crafts. The first WEFT Forum was held in Kuching in 1999, as part of the International Ikat Weaving Forum.
WEFT brings together international delegates
to exchange the latest information and present new and unpublished papers based on the latest research. It also discusses and documents related social and cultural experiences and the
stories, legends, oral history and traditions related to textiles and fibres worldwide.
Since its inauguration, WEFT has developed
into an authoritative
biennial 3 Day Forum with
9 main sessions and an international exhibition
and bazaar featuring Eco-Fibres and Textiles,
as well as a Pua-Kumbu
Iban Warp-ikat weaving competition/exhibition, and an international Eco Fashion Show. Over 300 delegates (weavers, craft-artisans, scholars, collectors, gallery- owners, officials and NGOs) from over 25 countries participated in WEFT 2012. The 2014 ISEND-WEFT was held in Taiwan, and the forum will be returning to Sarawak in due course.
The Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar
The Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar is held annually at
the Sarawak Cultural Village as part of the Rainforest World Music Festival (see 112) and offers a colourful feast for the eye. Festival visitors enjoy a vibrant mix of Sarawak’s own traditional products and crafts of the world. They can also snap up original works at bargain prices direct from the producers.
Beadworkers, basket- makers, woodcarvers and weavers gather from remote longhouses to showcase their handiwork to an international audience and interact with craftspeople from around the world. For example: a potter from Kalimantan doesn’t just bring his pots, he brings his wheel and clay as well; batik artists encourage visitors to try
out their ancient craft; and local reed-workers happily exchange tips with a Danish basket maker, each learning new skills as they work.