Var mala exchange of garlands at Indian wedding (photo by k♥money on Creative Commons license)
Var mala exchange of garlands at Indian wedding (photo by k♥money on Creative Commons license)
Early notice of an exhibition of jewellery from the Asia Pacific region
The World Craft Council are hosting a conference in New Delhi, 4-6 February 2011. The event is titled Abhushan: Tradition & Design – Dialogues for the 21st Century. A key element in this event is a series of exhibitions surveying jewellery from different world regions.
For the Asia Pacific region, works will be gathered that respond to the theme of welcome, using the garland as a reference. These garlands are typically given to honoured guests and are either made of flowers or have a floral design.
At a time when there are tensions regarding global migration flows, it seems important that we sustain traditions of welcome. But given limited access to flowers, are there alternative materials that can be used? Also, can these otherwise ephemeral works be transformed into longer-lasting objects, such as jewellery, that can testify to bonds of friendship.
The Asia Pacific region has a rich set of traditions that bestow a garland or neck-wreath. These include:
- var mala ceremony in Indian weddings
- phuang malai Thai garland
- East Timorese tais
- salusalu welcome wreaths and leis from the Pacific
- selendang (welcome) in Indonesia
- medals in Australasia
The exhibition Welcome Signs: contemporary interpretations of traditional garlands will contain works that draw from such traditions for use today. At early this stage, expressions of interest are welcome. Please send them by 30 June 2010 to welcome@craftunbound.net.
