RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s rich textile traditions are taking center stage in South Korea, with the Jakarta Textile Museum presenting seven of its collections at the exhibition Weaving Hands, Women’s Time: Textile Tradition in ASEAN at the KF ASEAN Culture House in Busan, running from March 26 to August 30, 2026.

Head of the Jakarta Cultural Agency’s Museum Arts Management Unit, Sri Kusumawati, said the museum is displaying five Ulos textiles from North Sumatra and two kebaya sets from Pekalongan, Central Java, complete with kemben (torso wrap) and batik cloth.

“These collections were selected because they align with the exhibition’s theme, Weaving and Women of Southeast Asia,” Sri explained in Jakarta on Friday, April 3, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Through traditional textiles, weaving tools, and multimedia presentations, visitors are invited to explore the history and dedication of women in preserving cultural identity across generations.

The exhibition is a collaboration involving more than 20 cultural institutions, including the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, Museum Batik Indonesia, Asia Culture Center, UNESCO Asia-Pacific ICH Centre, ASEAN-Korea Centre, and ASEAN embassies in Korea.

Sri emphasized that Indonesia’s participation reflects the importance of cross-border cooperation in promoting textile heritage globally. “This participation also supports the mission of the Textile Museum to preserve Indonesia’s wastra (traditional textile) culture,” she noted.

She expressed hope that the exhibition will strengthen the museum’s international profile, particularly among Korean and global audiences, while introducing Indonesian traditional textiles to a wider public. The event also marks the first time the Jakarta Textile Museum has participated in an exhibition in South Korea.

Looking ahead, Sri said opportunities remain open for collaboration with other countries. “This is our first time in South Korea, but in the future, there are possibilities to join exhibitions elsewhere,” she concluded.

The Busan exhibition highlights not only Indonesia’s textile artistry but also the shared cultural threads that connect Southeast Asia, underscoring the role of women as custodians of tradition and identity. ***