Exclusive Launch: Peranakan Rendezvous – A Private Collection of Antique Sarung Kebaya of Samson Wong

Invited guests to the exclusive launch of Peranakan Rendezvous were treated to a catwalk show of exquisite antique sarung kebaya from the private collection of Samson Wong. It was a prelude to the cultural exhibition of Peranakan-related clothing and daily wear that makes up a part of Samson’s total collection.

Samson, from Kuala Lumpur, is a 24-year-old of Peranakan heritage. Growing up, he had been enamoured with Peranakan apparel such as the sarung kebaya and batik, and started collecting these from the tender age of 16, beginning with an embroidered kebaya piece bought using his savings.

Surprisingly, Samson has never actively traversed the world in search of sarung kebaya and batik but his collection has grown both through inheritance and from the generosity of friends and relatives who found that Samson could appreciate these clothing better than them.

To date, Samson’s collection spans from many Peranakan communities beyond those of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. They date as far back as the early 1900s.

In this first solo exhibition, Samson is delighted with the opportunity to showcase his collection to Ipohites, borne from his earnest desire to create an awareness and understanding of his heritage with people from his generation.

As such, besides this exhibition, where a limited number of vintage batik from his own collection is being put up for sale, Samson’s immediate plan is to launch a book about Peranakan kebaya and batik, to impart his knowledge on this hallmark of Peranakan culture.

During the exclusive preview, guest-of-honour Ipoh’s very own Kampung Boy Dato’ Lat officiated the exhibition, which is open to the public daily (except Mondays) from November 2nd to 23rd, at Sepaloh Art Centre in Ipoh Old Town. The gallery is open from 10am to 5pm. Admission fee is RM10 each. For further information, contact Ms. Peggy Lim at 016-5230711.

Event: Exclusive Launch: Peranakan Rendezvous – A Private Collection of Antique Sarung Kebayas of Samson Wong
Venue: Sepaloh Art Centre, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Ipoh.
Date: 1st Nov, 2014
Time: 12pm

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