Asia Pacific Textile Exhibition to kick off

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.