Telepuk: the Malay art of leaving gold on cloth
Once dormant for decades, the traditional craft is finding new admirers through workshops, historic textiles and experiments with materials beyond gold leaf.
A centuries-old Malay textile art form known as telepuk is being revived and taught through hands-on workshops to prevent its disappearance. Participants in a recent workshop at the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre in Kuala Lumpur learned the delicate process that requires a carved wooden block, a thin layer of natural gum, and gold leaf.
The workshop was part of the "Telepuk: The Imprint of Heritage" exhibition, which showcased historical pieces and experiments with new materials. The craft involves four skills: weaving, wood carving, grinding, and applying gold leaf. Founder of the Langkasuka Movement, Intan Jailani, emphasized the importance of documentation and practical teaching in preserving the tradition.
The exhibition also explored how the craft could evolve by experimenting with new materials like tin foil while still maintaining its traditional foundations.
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- Telepuk: the Malay art of leaving gold on cloth freemalaysiatoday.com
