Arts & Crafts in Malaysia

Malaysia is the dwelling place of so many ethnic groups. And this diversity is reflected in the arts and crafts. Music, dance, paintings and sculpture are the mirror of the society. The arts and crafts signify what Malaysia is all about. You have a good look at them and they will tell you a lot about the country.

Music
So many influences make the music of Malaysia distinct. Influence of Indonesia, Thailand, Portugal and China is obvious. Popular music varies from region to region. Ghazals are popular in almost whole of Malaysia where as folk music is more popular in Malacca. Zapin music is another music which is popular throughout the region.

Heritage in Museums
Malaysia has rich heritage and artefacts related to the past have found place in museums. There are various museums in Malaysia where you can witness the glorious past.

The National Museum, located outside Perdana Lake Gardens in Malaysia, gives one glimpses of the country's rich art and culture. When you visit the museum, you can see exhibits of the local culture and tradition, currency and the economic activities of the place. There are various galleries in the museum and each gallery has its own theme.

The Islamic Arts Museum is Southeast's Asia's largest Museum of Islamic art. The Museum is located in Jalan Lembah Perdana in Malaysia. Islamic art from Persia, Middle East, Asia, China and the Malay World can be seen in the Islamic Arts Museum. Another highlight of the museum is its building, which gives an Islamic feeling by its details and not by its structure.

Philharmonic Hall
Classical music can be best enjoyed in the Philharmonic Hall which is located at the Petronas Twin Towers. The hall has modern sitting arrangements, and is the home to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Programs are conducted both by local and international artists. It’s an ideal place for spending some leisure time.

National Art Gallery
National Art Gallery is located in Jalan Temerloh and you can see the various exhibitions here which reflect the art and crafts of Malaysia. The art gallery has various amenities such as sculpture gardens, graphics studio, library, book shop, cafe etc.

Famous Crafts
Major arts of the country are Batik, Songket, Woodcarving, Menkuang, Kite Making, Keris, Boat Making and Ratan Weaving. Batik are colored designs on cotton or silk, produced by using wax on the uncolored part of the textiles. Songket is a form of craft which is generally used during special occasions. It is said to have descended from the Pattani courts. Known as cloth of gold, it is created by weaving threads with gold and silver strands.

Woodcarving is the oldest traditional crafts which is applied in the designs of pilars, window shutters, doors, shutters and furniture of houses and palaces. Menkuang has become a full fledged cottage industry in Malaysia. Tall thorny leaves are used to make colorful mats, hats, fans, purses etc. Other popular crafts of the country are kite making, boat making, keris and rattan weaving.

Dinesh Patairya is a seasoned traveler. He has been writing on travel and tourism for years for several online and offline publications. Currently he is associated with YourAsianVacations.com

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