Versatile batik and tenun

The variety was simply amazing. VIMALA SENEVIRATNE was spellbound by the range of handicrafts displayed at the recent Malaysian Batik and Tenun Fiesta

ARTISTIC and beautifully crafted best described the varieties of local handicraft on display at the nine-day Malaysian Batik and Tenun Fiesta held at Kraftangan Complex in Kuala Lumpur.

The event which ended on Aug 30, was held to showcase the versatility of batik and tenun Pahang textiles – perfect for interior designs and fashion wear. Other items on display include ceramics, metal craft and woodcraft.

There were silk and satin throw cushions and bed-sheets in pastel as well as bold and bright floral batik, table runners, placemats in kain songket.

The designs for the cushions, mostly floral, were either printed or hand-painted and a layer of padding gave them an embossed look.

The lampshades, all brightly-coloured batik floral prints on cotton, were eye-catching as were the Iban lampshades made of tree bark fibre.

Batik cloth flowers and driftwood, carved with ethnic Iban designs and polished, can add cheer to a room. There were all kinds of highly polished brassware such as candle-stands, vases and decorative buckets made by artisans from Terengganu as well as other decorative items like egg-shaped ceramic potpourri holders with vine motifs.

Nyatoh wood jewellery boxes were inlaid with intricately carved designs in silver while others were made of songket with silver trimmings on the corners.

There were leather slippers with kain songket trimming for men and women, canvas handbags in batik print, silk batik cheong sam and sarees in hand-painted or printed batik with beadwork.