Her Majesty Queen Azizah of Malaysia arrives at the Pahang Pavilion, an exhibition showcasing her personal collection of garments and fabrics, at the second iteration of CIMB's Artober Art & Soul art fair. As she walks through the various displays, she recalls with impressive detail the story behind each piece. From the now-iconic modern kurung she wore during her installation as Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia in 2019 to the deep yellow dress she wore at the recent coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey, crafted by inmates of Penor Prison, the queen's deep interest in the subject of craftwork shines through as she describes the intricacies of creating each tenun garment down to the careful embroidery of royal crests.
Tenun means "to weave" in the Malay language, and commonly refers to the silk weaves of Pahang known as the Royal Pahang Weave or Tenun Pahang Diraja. Under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Azizah of Malaysia, the fabric is now considered an official national textile to be worn in the palace and at official government functions.
Her devotion to art and traditional crafts began in her childhood, where she would participate in crafts and cooking workshops held by lecturers in the local colleges, she explains. It was a love that was nurtured by her parents. She fondly recounts her interactions with the late artist Ramli Malek, known for his abstract paintings depicting village life, as well as his innovation with batik design and production: "On a visit to Kuantan, Pahang for a polo match, my father became acquainted with Ramli Malek, who wanted to study art in England. My father bought his entire collection-30 pieces of art-which enabled him to pursue that dream. Whenever he came back to Malaysia, Ramli Malek would teach us how to draw and tell us all about his experimentation with batik. I used to look forward to his visits."
This story is from the January 2024 edition of Tatler Malaysia.
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This story is from the January 2024 edition of Tatler Malaysia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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