| A Culture of Malaysian Creativity | |||||
| Long
before modern inventions were heard off, heritage of innovation
was already firmly in place in the Malay archipelagos, breathing
beauty and cultural tradition into everyday objects. |
|
||||
Songket |
|||||
|
For
clothing, our weavers created the exquisite songket. This creation
brought together the threads of a multicultural heritage from Chinese
silk, Indian gold and Malay artisanship. |
||||
| Mengkuang | |||||
| For
carpeting, the weavers worked the humble mengkuang leaves into floor
mats and cushions. The leaves emit a soothing fragrance and doubles
as a repellent to pestilent insects. |
|
||||
| Keris |
|||||
|
For
protection, our blacksmiths applied alchemy to keris-making, fusing
different metals for their strength, durability and aesthetic qualities.
|
||||
| Traditional Homes | |||||
| For
homes, craftmen built elevated homes with strong hardwood that kept
their families dry even during the ravaging monsoons. |
|
||||
| Inventions
& Designs |
|||||
|
Innovation
is present not only in the choice of materials used, but permeates
the designs of these traditional products as well. The porous nature
of mengkuang mats keeps the body well aerated in spite of Malaysia's
humidity. The absence of nails did not faze our early builders,
who put up houses and even palaces using only the strength of good
architecture and even stronger joints. |
||||
| Labu Sayong | |||||
| The
distinct gourd shape of the labu sayong assists the cooling of water,
a necessary pleasure in the hot Malaysian climate. The inherent
minerals in the labu sayong's chief clay and minerals, believed
to be able to cure fevers and coughs. Considering the popularity
of mineral pots today, could it be that our forefathers had already
put this concept to good use centuries ago? |
|
||||
A
Creative Heritage |
|||||
|
Modern
technology may have lessened our dependence on these early inventions,
but certainly does not render them obsolete. These crafts will stand
as a testament to Malaysia's long culture of creativity, the result
of experimentation and the application of basic scientific knowledge
to create items that are both beautiful and rich in heritage. |
||||
|
|||||
