ASEAN SPOUSES CIRCLE EXPLORE SOUTHEAST ASIAN CULTURE AT GWU’S IKAT EXHIBIT

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-10-2024
19 March 2024
Embassy Press and Information Section
info@phembassy-us.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., together with the George Washington University (GWU) Museum and the Textile Museum, organized a special tour of the museum for the members of the ASEAN Spouses Circle (ASC) on 15 March 2024. This event was organized as the Philippines celebrates National Women’s Month in March. 

A notable feature of the program is a guided tour of the exhibition “Irresistible: The Global Patterns of Ikat.” This exhibition commemorates the intricate artistic and cultural legacy of ikat, a sophisticated resist-dyeing technique employed worldwide to adorn textiles. The exhibit prominently showcases exquisite pieces from diverse Southeast Asian countries. This exhibition will run through 01 June 2024 at the GWU Museum and the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.

ASC members had the unique opportunity to visit the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center (CTTSC) of the Museum, where they delved deeper into textiles of various ASEAN countries, and learned the art of textile preservation.

During her opening remarks, Mrs. Maria Lourdes Marquez-Romualdez, spouse of Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, emphasized the role of women in preserving cultural traditions as she said “Throughout history, women have been the primary keepers of cultural traditions, passing on knowledge and skills from generation to generation. In today’s time, the weaving industry in the Philippines is primarily led by women, highlighting their command in sustaining these cultural traditions. ”

Among the special guests in attendance were: 1) Madame Tran Thi Bich Van, ASC President and spouse of Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States H.E. Nguyen Quoc Dung; 2) Datin Seri Haflin Nazri Aziz, ASC Vice President and spouse of Malaysian Ambassador to the United States H.E. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz; 3) Ms. Aye Mya Mya Khaing, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; 4) Mrs. Khamphanh Inphachanh, spouse of Lao PDR Ambassador to the United States H.E. Sisavath Inphachanh; and 5) Mrs. Lui Soo Fen, spouse of Singaporean Ambassador to the United States H.E. Lui Tuck Yew. 

The GWU Museum and the Textile Museum situated in Washington, D.C., celebrates the artistic accomplishments of local and global cultures spanning ancient times to the present. Their collections feature international textile art and artifacts that reflect the evolution of Washington, D.C. Faculty and students utilize these collections for research and teaching purposes across various academic disciplines within the university. Learn more about the museum and its upcoming events through: https://museum.gwu.edu/. ###