Kuala lumpur: Royal Selangor has officially launched "Telepuk: The Imprint of Heritage," an exhibition and collection aimed at bringing renewed attention to Telepuk, the rare traditional art of Malay textile gilding. The event was graced by the presence of the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, alongside Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the exhibition is organized to revive interest in this traditional art form by displaying historical royal garments, woodblocks, fabrics, material research, and a collaborative pewter collection with the Victoria and Albert (VandA) Museum in London. Royal Selangor managing director Datuk Yong Yoon Li emphasized the initiative's broader objective to bridge traditional heritage with contemporary design and public engagement, aiming to draw renewed attention to the refined craft that is currently practised by only a small number of artisans.
Yong highlighted that the exhibition brings together museums, heritage institutions, researchers, artisans, collectors, and partners to create an experience that connects historical scholarship with craftsmanship, education, and contemporary design. The exhibition features textile gilding using pewter leaf, inspired by Telepuk, and offers workshops for attendees to learn the art using pewter instead of gold.
He further noted the importance of heritage being practised and shared anew, expressing gratitude to the Langkasuka Movement for their foundational advocacy in this project. Key highlights on display include the mid-19th Century Baju Sikap associated with Sultan Sir Abdul Samad, with support from Jabatan Muzium Malaysia, and ceremonial garments worn by the Selangor royal household featuring traditional motifs.
The exhibition also reconnects the craft with its historical roots, showcasing 77 Telepuk woodblocks associated with Sultan Sir Ala'eddin Suleiman Shah, originally displayed at the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley from 1924 to 1925 and housed in London's VandA Museum for nearly a century. In conjunction with the exhibition, Royal Selangor unveiled a new contemporary pewter collection inspired by these woodblock motifs, including a Telepuk Collector's Set and coasters.
Royal Selangor is contributing 20 per cent of net proceeds from the sale of each Telepuk Collector's Set to the Langkasuka Movement to support the preservation and continuation of the craft. Langkasuka Movement co-founder Abdul Razak Aziz expressed appreciation to Royal Selangor and stressed the importance of reconnecting the public with their cultural history to keep traditional arts like Telepuk alive.
As Royal Selangor's research and cultural partner for the Telepuk programme, Langkasuka Movement has provided extensive documentation, artisan relationships, and material research, culminating in its Yayasan Hasanah-backed publication, "Telepuk: Forgotten Flowers of Gold," which forms the foundational core of the exhibition.