ID :
69419
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 21:15
Auther :

COUNTDOWN FOR INDONESIA'S SPECTACLE IN NEW YORK BEGINS

By Manik Mehta

NEW YORK, July 7 (Bernama) -- Somewhat analogous to Malaysia's marathon
food and cultural festivals staged in the past in New York, Indonesia is also
organising in the Big Apple what it is being tout as the "mother of all
Indonesian spectacles" staged abroad so far.
Preparations are afoot for a gargantuan Indonesian batik exhibition
featuring the private collections of Ann Dunham, mother of US President Barack
Obama, and Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, the first lady of Indonesia.
Ann Dunham, an anthropologist, spent some years in Indonesia collecting many
unusual and exceptional pieces of traditional batik that form the core of an
exhibition called "A lady found a culture: Barack Obama's mother in Indonesia"
to be held in New York's Plaza Hotel on July 21.
The exhibition has toured four major US cities - Chicago, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and Houston since May this year.
Trie Edi Mulyani, the Indonesian consul general in New York told Bernama
that the exhibition had received "great acclaim" and had witnessed "long queues
of interested Americans wanting to see it" in the four cities.
"This exhibition will be a rare and special event in New York. Spotlighting
the precious collection of Madame Dunham, it will also showcase the treasured
collections of Indonesia's First Lady, Madame Ani Yudhoyono.
"The Indonesian consulate general, in collaboration with the Indonesian
embassy in Washington and the Investment Coordinating Board of Indonesia, will
present the exhibition under the title 'Two Ladies Found a Culture in Cloths:
Barack Obama's Mother and the First Lady of Indonesia's Batiks'," explained
Mulyani.
Explaining the intricate process of batik making, she drew nuances between
the batik style of Malaysia and Indonesia with each country having its own
unique batik characteristics.
The exhibition will be officially opened by the chairman of Indonesia's
Coordinating Board of Investment, Muhammad Lutfi and will feature classic
collections of Batik Danar Hadi as well as contemporary batik collections by
Indonesian fashion designers, Oscar Lawalata and Emma Holiza.
"Indonesia's celebrity chef Yono Purnomo, in collaboration with the Plaza
Hotel culinary team, will produce Indonesian culinary delights for the guests,"
Mulyani said.
According to Indonesian sources in New York, Ann Dunham appreciated the
intricate weaving and colours of batik during her stay in Indonesia.
She had collected batik because of her "great love" for the material and not
just because of its value.
"The collection of President Obama's mother comprises 21 pieces of batik. We
are also looking at the possibility of exhibiting her batik collection in
Indonesia," Mulyani revealed.
Indonesian diplomats in the United States are also roping in other interest
groups to help in this ambitious project.
Some of the groups that are partnering with the Indonesian consulate general
and the embassy include the Indonesia-American Friendship Association, the
American-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council for
International Understanding.
-- BERNAMA


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