From batik to Lao silk: ASEAN Culture House opens textile exhibition in Busan

The promotional poster for the ASEAN Culture House exhibition / Courtesy of Korea Foundation

A major exhibition spotlighting Southeast Asian textile heritage opens Wednesday at the ASEAN Culture House in Busan's Haeundae District.

The exhibition, presented by the Korea Foundation (KF), will feature traditional fabrics, weaving tools and video installations that together will present the evolution and cultural significance of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) textile traditions.

Titled “Weaving Hands, Women’s Time: Textile Traditions in ASEAN,” the exhibition brings together textile traditions from 11 Southeast Asian countries, offering a comprehensive look at both historical and contemporary practices.

The exhibition aims to illuminate both the artistic value and everyday cultural significance of textile crafts, with particular focus on the role of women, according to KF. It highlights how generations of women’s labor have shaped Southeast Asia’s textile culture, preserving communal memory and cultural identity through continuous, repetitive craft practices.

A screenshot from a special feature video by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage titled “The Aesthetics of Insight into Life: Batik Patterns” / Courtesy of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage, STUPPA INDONESIA

The exhibition also introduces textile traditions from the ASEAN region that have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, underscoring their global cultural importance.

The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections: an introduction to the full textile-making process, from fiber collection to spinning, dyeing and weaving; an exploration of the symbolism and aesthetics of regional textiles, including batik and kebaya, and the cultural exchanges across Southeast Asia; a focus on the labor and lives of ASEAN women artisans, highlighting the social and cultural significance of their work; and a final section examining how traditional textile practices are preserved and adapted within modern industries.

The exhibition is supported by major institutions across Southeast Asia, including the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum Batik Indonesia and the Jakarta Textile Museum. Korean partners include the Asia Culture Center, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage and the ASEAN-Korea Centre, along with ASEAN embassies in Korea.

Traditional clothing for girls and boys made from Lao silk / Courtesy of KF ASEAN Culture House Collection

An opening ceremony Thursday, attended by officials from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Busan Metropolitan City and ASEAN diplomatic representatives, will feature a live weaving demonstration by a Thai ethnic minority artisan, invited in collaboration with the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which will be filmed and screened throughout the exhibition's run.

As part of its public programming, the exhibition will also host a hands-on event Weaving Experience with Artisans, Friday, allowing visitors to engage directly with traditional Southeast Asian weaving techniques.

The exhibit runs through Aug. 30.