THE BEAUTY OF BATIK

Brinda Gill explores the simplicity and grandeur of ‘A Royal Treasure: The Javanese Batik Collection of King Chulalongkorn of Siam,’ an on-going exhibition at Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand.

- Brinda Gill

An absolute treat for textile lovers, students and designers, The Javanese Batik Collection of King Chulalongkorn exhibition is set in the heart of the vast and vibrant city of Bangkok. The Grand Palace which is a complex of sacred shrines and impressive buildings graced with lawns, gardens, and courtyards has also been the official residence of the Kings of Siam, and later Thailand, since 1782. It attracts hundreds of visitors each day who step in to pray and admire the art and architecture of these shrines.

Located to the right of the main entrance of the Grand Palace is a wonderful destination for textile lovers. It is called the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles (QSMT) set in an elegant heritage building. The museum collects, displays, preserves and exhibits textiles from the East, South, and Southeast Asia with an emphasis on textiles and dressing behaviors of Thailand and its Royal Court. It also serves as a center for those who would like to study and learn more about heritage and contemporary textiles. The museum is a gift of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and Her support for the foundation to the people of Thailand.

A PRIZED COLLECTION

The QSMT is known to frequently hold textile exhibitions, showing off prized textiles and attire. The on-going Javanese Batik Collection exhibition offers textile lovers a rare view into heritage Javanese batik textiles. Scholars state that it was in the island of Java, Indonesia that batik became an art form and the exhibition is testimony to the same.