Embracing Tapestry of Tradition

Experience Malaysian Textile Heritage with IKAT 2.0: Penang Edition on 27 and 28 April 2024

The IKAT 2.0, an immersive-driven platform dedicated to the preservation of Malaysian textile heritage, will land at the shores of George Town, Penang, on 27 and 28 April 2024 at The Loft 29. Curated with Northern region audiences in mind, the IKAT 2.0 Penang edition, titled “Tapestry of Tradition”, celebrates the captivating narratives of textile art and craftsmanship inherent in Malaysian East Coast Batik.

Spearheaded by creative studio EDT and presented by Yayasan Hasanah, IKAT, abbreviated from Immersive Knowledge and Textile, seeks to reinvigorate public engagement and deepen Malaysians’ appreciation for heritage textiles, motifs, techniques and creation processes through immersive experiences, technology and strategic collaborations with artisans, new media artists, educational institutions and subject matter experts.

IKAT 2.0: TAPESTRY OF TRADITION

Discover the vibrant heritage of Malaysian East Coast Batik at the IKAT 2.0 Penang edition. Taking form as a dynamic pop-up textile experiential hub, the two-day event will offer a curated selection of engaging experiences, featuring an immersive pavilion, textile showcase, motif-inspired phygital experiences, hands-on workshops conducted by Kelantan artisans, talks and a fashion show.  Themed “Tapestry of Tradition”, the Penang edition dives into the symbolic significance of the Five Elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Metal and Wood, bringing the audiences through a cultural exploration journey to understand how these elements shape the narrative, techniques and creation of Malaysian Batik.

The curation of IKAT 2.0: Tapestry of Tradition is jointly led by Hanuni Ab Halim and Khadijatul Azada. Hanuni is a passionate tie-dye artisan and the former Chief Operating Officer of a social impact company dedicated to showcasing premium artisanal batik creations from Kelantan. Khadijatul Azada, on the other hand, is a strong advocator of Malaysian cultural heritage branding and preservation as well as women empowerment where she also led the Silver Lining Project Malaysia – a community-driven initiative supported by Yayasan Hasanah committed to the preservation and revitalisation of Malaysian heritage through traditional textiles, metal crafts and performing arts.

Highlights of the IKAT 2.0: Tapestry of Tradition are as follows: –

• The Immersive Pavilion: The 480ft immersive gallery, featuring five narrations portraying the Earth, Water, Fire, Metal and Wood, offers visitors a beautiful journey through the craftsmanship and cultural expressions of Malaysian Batik that have endured across generations.

• Textile Showcase: Immerse yourself in a first-hand experience at the textile exhibition, where you can explore the timeless elegance, creativity and artistry of Batik originating from the East Coast of Malaysia. Discover thoughtfully curated booths, each focusing on an essential component of Batik creation, including stamping, natural dye and Batik drawing.

• Live Demonstration of Batik Creation and Workshops by esteemed artisans – Md Ghani bin Mat, Padil Osman and Nawwal binti Abdul Kadir. Md Ghani bin Mat, recognised as a master artisan and Adiguru of Batik block craft, will unveil the meticulous process of crafting and moulding Batik blocks. Join Padil Osman, a talented Batik and watercolour artist, as he brings to life the tradition and creative essence of Batik painting through his live demonstration. Meanwhile learn about the ancient secrets of natural dyeing with Nawwal binti Abdul Kadir, a natural dye artist, researcher and lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan as she showcases various plants, roots and leaves used in the dyeing process, with the opportunity to engage in colouring Batik fabric alongside her.
• Talk Sessions: Engaging discussions led by Azzaha Ibrahim, an architect, independent researcher and artist of Corak Malaysia, and Nawwal binti Abdul Kadir where they will be sharing their insights and expertise in motifs and natural dye.
• Fashion Showcase: Centred on the theme of upcycling and innovation, the fashion show will present collections designed by fashion students from Limkokwing University’s Faculty of Creative Arts and Lifestyle. The show is overseen and curated by Dato Tiffanee Marie Lim.

In the realm of Asian cultural exploration, IKAT 2.0 stands as a one-of-its-kind experiential event that harmoniously integrates heritage textiles with an enriching interactive experience. The IKAT 2.0 is spearheaded by EDT – a creative studio specialising in virtual reality, augmented reality as well as mixed reality and presented by Yayasan Hasanah. The IKAT 2.0 is made possible by Filamen, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Penang Art District, Loft29, WHOLE Malaysia and RUBIX Communications.

Admission to the IKAT 2.0: Tapestry of Tradition pop-up textile experiential hub is free, from 10:30am to 10:30pm.  For further information about IKAT 2.0, please visit https://ikatmalaysia.com/ or follow their social platforms at IG @IKATMalaysia.