Asia Pacific Textile Exhibition to kick off

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The magnificent textiles of the hinterlands, batik dodot from Yogyakarta and batik buketan from Pekalongan, Central Jakarta, are among 100 collections to be displayed during the Asia-Pacific Textile Exhibition at the Textile Museum from Oct. 15 to Oct. 26.

"We will also display the Balinese masterpiece known as gringsing, a cloth made using the technique of double-weaving," Tukiran Effendy, a senior staff member of the museum said on Monday.

The museum will exhibit the work, together with the embassies of other Asia and Pacific countries, in a bid to promote the museum and strengthen relationships among the countries.

The expo will be located at the museum on Jl. Aipda K.S. Tubun No. 2-4 in Petamburan, Central Jakarta and will include various textiles, tapestries and clothing from various countries in the region.

The State Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika will open the expo at 7:30 pm on Oct. 15. The opening ceremony will be attended by ambassadors and cultural attaches from the participating countries.

"Prominent Indonesian fashion designers like Iwan Tirta, Ghea Panggabean and Ramli are also expected to attend the ceremony," Tukiran said.

Eleven countries have confirmed their participation. They are Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, Japan, India, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

"We're still waiting for confirmation from China, Sri Lanka and Pakistan," the museum's day caretaker Enny Prihantini said.

The exhibition will also display a dress modeled from those worn during the Japanese Chosun dynasty and wedding dresses.

At the opening ceremony guests will be entertained by traditional Indian dance.

The expo will be open to the public from Oct. 16. Adults are required to pay an entrance fee of Rp 2,000 (24 U.S. cents), children and students, Rp 600.