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October 2016

Sabaidee! We can finally breathe! Our new exhibit, "Seeds of Culture: From Living Plants to Handicrafts", is now open for our local and international visitors! Along with guest curator, Dr. Yukino Ochiai, we are excited to share this insightful perspective on the Job's tear (Coix) seed plant and its uses in Southeast Asia and around the world.

Now On Display
"Seeds of Culture: From Living Plants to Handicrafts"

Now open to the public, our newest exhibition is a visual delight with unique artefacts featuring the Job's tears (Coix) plant indigenous to Southeast Asia. This special exhibition provides insight into the clothing and changing lifestyles of the region's ethnic minorities, including the Akha, Chin, Karen, Jinghpaw, and Palaung.

Ethnic groups belonging to different linguistic categories and countries use the wild and domesticated plants of the Job's tears as food, medicine, and beads. In particular, the seed beads have been used for costume decoration in beautiful and striking combinations. Dr. Ochiai says, "by displaying the whole process from living plants, seeds and items in this exhibit, I hope to share an idea with museum visitors how material culture is based on plant diversity and the environment."

The exhibit will be on display until Fall 2018 with artefacts rotating through on a bi-annual basis.

Visit our Facebook page to view photos of the installation process and special opening preview for our local community.

Artefact Spotlight: Haka Chin Ceremonial Skirt

In the Chin State of Western Myanmar, Chin villages are scattered over the high mountains. As a result of the hills and valleys separating them from each other, there are more than 40 sub-groups with different languages and customs. They are known as skillful weavers who make textiles of various supplementary weft patterns by using back strap looms. Moreover, they use the seeds to decorate clothing for special occasions.

Haka Chin women decorate their tube skirts with two types of seed shapes, teardrop and tube. They connect the seeds and metal tubes with threads to make strings and then hang the strings down around the waist. They wear these skirts to participate in harvest festivals and wedding ceremonies. With the hanging strings of the seeds, when they dance they can create an eye-catching embellishment as well as a pleasing sound as the seeds knock against one another.

Other unique objects are described in our special feature in the September 2016 issue of Textiles Asia magazine, "Job's Tears: A Natural Bead in Textiles of Mainland Southeast Asia." We have limited copies for sale at the TAEC Museum Shop - you can also subscribe and order from Textiles Asia directly on their website.

Artisan Collaboration: Seed Bead Collection

We always appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with our ethnic artisan groups through sharing design concepts and showcasing their traditional skills and techniques. This new collection does just that! As an extension of the new exhibition, we bring you the Seed Bead Collection of handicrafts available now at the TAEC Museum Shop and TAEC Boutique. Come by to see the new jewellery, bags, and toys that all feature the delicate beauty of the Job's tears seed.

Our aim is to expand our handicraft programme in the coming months so be sure to Like our Facebook page for updates and where you can buy our products!

Join us to create Boats of Light for Awk Phansaa

Free Activity with Museum Entry Ticket - All Ages Welcome!
Sunday, 16 October 2016
Drop in from 10AM - 4PM

In Luang Prabang, locals mark the end of phansaa, the three-month meditation retreat for Buddhist monks, by creating boats of light (Heua Fai) and releasing them in the Mekong River. Join us at TAEC on this special day to make your own eco-friendly Boat of Light. Under the guidance of TAEC staff, you can create your Heua Fai using banana leaves, fresh flowers, and candles. Lai Heua Fai means "floating boats of light downstream". The festival pays homage to the river and is a time to send away bad luck and make wishes for the future.

Using bamboo and colored paper, temples and villages will also build boats of light, several metres long. One boat, called Heua Fai Khowk, will stay on the temple ground and another boat will be released in the river. In the evening, a parade of these larger boats proceed down the main street to Wat Xieng Thong for judging. Later that night the villagers and novice monks will send the big Heua Fai down the river.

Check out Tourism Luang Prabang to learn about other traditional festivals held throughout the year.

Legacies of War
Fashion Meets Philanthropy 2016
Lao Now

TAEC is proud to support of Legacies of War's, Fashion Meets Philanthropy Lao Now event which will be held in New York City at Wallace Hall on October 15, 2016. The evening will showcase food, fashion, and art from the diverse ethnic communities of Laos.

Legacies of War is an organization that advocates for the removal of UXO unexploded bombs in Laos. This upcoming fundraising event supports a future where the people of Laos can walk their lands free from encountering one of the 80 million unexploded bombs that are still active.

Can't make it to New York City? You can still show your support by heading to their online auction and place your bid on over 100 auction items including our Yao Mien silver necklace and bracelet set!

Happy bidding!

Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre

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