French President impressed by Sarawak Crafts show in Paris
President Macron (right) asking Ong some details about the 'Topi Tunjang' during the stop at the 'Sarawak Crafts Revealed' exhibition in Revelations Biennale 2025.
KUCHING (May 25): The 'Sarawak Crafts Revealed' exhibition takes centerstage at the prestigious 'Revelations Biennale Paris 2025', organised by Ateliers d'Art de France.
At the opening night on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and the First Lady Brigitte Macron visited the exhibition, where they received warm welcome from Sarawak Crafts Council board member Edric Ong, as well as Society Atelier Sarawak president Melinda Omar and its treasurer Ahmad Medani.
'President Macron was particularly attracted to the 'Topi Tunjang' (traditional rattan hats) made by the Senia Jugi, representing the longhouse community of Rumah Ensong.
'He was presented with a natural dark grey hat, while Madam Brigitte received an Orang Ulu Kabo bead necklace,' said Society Atelier Sarawak in a statement issued yesterday.
The Sarawak Crafts exhibition was organised by the Sarawak Craft Council and Society Atelier Sarawak, supported by the State Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts.
The council's chief executive officer Suriya Charles Boas, who was also at the Paris event, said that the core objective of Sarawak's participation was to showcase the finest homeland crafts and their artisans to an international audience.
'Mr Romain Juilha, the French curator of Revelations Biennale, was invited to Kuching in December last year to select the works up for display (this year).
'The selection comprises the fine works by artisan Ngot Bi from Kampung Semera Ulu who weaves the 'tikar begerang' (mats woven from screwpine leaves); Bangie Embol from Rumah Garie who makes 'Pua Kumbu Ikat' (traditional Iban textile using tie technique); Senia Jugi from Rumah Ensong ('Topi Tunjang'); Ulu Ai Conservancy under TR Andah Lembang (basketry); Kampung Serikin under Sandra Trinata ('Tikar Gelsah, another variety of woven mat); Ba Kelalan community under Dayang Tigur ('Raung' fibre boxes);Gedong Kain songket community under Ramtiniwati (songket); Kampung Sibuluh under Abot Gudang (sago container); Dayang Mastura and Norinda Suut ('keringkam', which is traditional Sarawak Malay scarf embroidery); Mathew Ngau Jau ( bark paintings); Juliana Embrose (natural seeds beadwork); and Edric Ong (bark-cloth natural dyed textiles),' Suriya elaborated.
Photo shows the 'Pua Kumbu Ikat' items on display at the exhibition.
In his message printed on the 'Sarawak Crafts Revealed' brochure, State Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that the exposure and publicity generated would draw more visitors to come to Sarawak.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, who stopped by in Paris after his visit to the IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany, was pleased to see the tremendous response to Sarawak Crafts at Revelations Biennale 2025.
He and his wife Datin Melinda Bucking Lawan also met up with World Crafts Council Latin America president Barbara Velasco at the Chile booth, and Durjoy Rahman of the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation, before proceeding to meetings at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) headquarters in Paris.
Snowdan (front, second right) and Melinda, on his right, with the Sarawak delegation during the courtesy call on Durjoy (front, right) in Paris.
The 'Sarawak Crafts Revealed' exhibition at Revelations Biennale, which concludes today, gathers over 30,000 visitors from 60 countries.
The next Biennale will be in 2027, where it is envisaged that Sarawak would have an even larger presence in the next edition. lead Paris President Emmanuel Macron Sarawak Crafts Revealed
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