On 13 September 2016, in partnership with Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan and guest curator Dr. Yukino Ochiai, TAEC will open a new exciting exhibition about the interaction between plant and cultural diversity in Laos and around the world. Entitled “Seeds of Culture: From Living Plants to Handicrafts,” it uses the indigenous grass plant, Job’s tears (Coix), also known as mak deuay hin in Lao language, to demonstrate how the material culture of ethnic groups is based on the environment and the importance of our relationship with nature.
In mainland Southeast Asia, including Laos, Job’s tears have been utilized for three main purposes: food, medicine, and decoration, in the form of beads. The exhibition focuses on the latter use. These “seed beads” represent the social states and gender of the wearer, and are utilized when people accumulate, exchange, and display their wealth. The use of seed beads in clothing and accessories indicates the existence of natural environments for growing the plants and the knowledge of people who adapt the plants for handicraft making.
In addition to the indoor exhibition space, expert botanists from Luang Prabang-based Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden will partner in creating our unique ethno-botanical garden adjacent to the museum. Museum visitors will experience a living collection of Lao flora and fauna including indigo, cotton, piat, bamboo, rattan, and Job’s tears highlighted in the exhibition.
To prepare for the exhibit installation, TAEC will be closed from 29 August through 12 September. The TAEC Boutique on Ban Vat Sene will remain open every day from 9am-9pm.
For more information about collaborative sponsorships or donations to the Seeds of Culture exhibit, please email us.
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