Page 69 - The Guide To Malaysia 9th Edition

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 65
These two states also boast a rich history of batik and songket weaving. The latter, featuring intricate interweaving of threads with gold or silver strands to create geometric patterns, is descended from the courts of Pattani in Southern Thailand, and
is still used today in royal regalia and formal Malay wear.
Rattan weaving and basketry remain prevalent in the country’s rural areas and all manner of utilitarian objects — predominantly handmade by women — are crafted from materials such as pandan and mengkuang leaves. Traditional kites or wau are another popular tradition, often decorated with colourful adornments and floral motifs. In the state of Kelantan, people
Malay master woodcarver Norhaiza Noordin in his workshop at Bakawali Sari Warisan, the woodcarving study centre he created in Kampung Raja, Terengganu.
still fly these multihued kites, which also feature in the logo of the country’s national carrier, Malaysia Airlines (see page 428). Sadly, as the speed and efficiency of machine- assisted processes become more dominant, these art forms, and the intricacy offered by handmaking techniques, are increasingly being threatened with extinction. Therefore,
the wise art-lover should grasp the opportunity to acquire traditional works
of art before they become priceless relics.
For traditional arts
and crafts in the capital, Pucuk Rebung in Bangsar
is a good place to start. Antiquities, old wooden carvings, and glittering jewellery and adornments flood the store-come- museum, taking visitors on
a trip through Malaysia’s past. Also good for a quick overview is the Kompleks Budaya Kraf on Jalan Stonor (see page 96), which also hosts the annual National Craft Day festival. The art
of Peninsular Malaysia’s original inhabitants is showcased at the Orang Asli Craft Museum, next
to the National Museum in KL. Here, visitors can view carved wooden totems and masks, as well as traditional costumes made from natural materials.
The Arts of Sabah and Sarawak
The Borneo states of Sabah
A weaver at the Tanoti workshop in Kuching executing a fine Songket, a Malay brocade textile interwoven with silver and gold threads.
and Sarawak offer visitors a glimpse into well-preserved forms of traditional art, predominantly related
to the indigenous communities. In Sarawak especially, body art still flourishes, and the best- known tattoo artists, as well as their living canvases, belong to the Iban and Orang Ulu communities. Popular motifs include the bunga terung (eggplant flower), an abstract floral design featuring spiral
lines at the centre to represent the passage
of life. Each tattoo motif bears a different meaning, and traditional tattooing
is done with handmade implements. Other forms of body art include decorative pieces, such as jewellery and weighty brass ear pendants that cause the earlobes to droop.