A high tea party recently took place at the home of textile collector and Asian art history expert John Ang. It was a fun afternoon filled with stories and history about Malay textiles, a DIY show, joget, and mouthwatering Nyonya food.
High tea with a nostalgic twist
His statement that all cloths have magical powers still ring true for some of us who were blown away by his fascinating and well-curated ‘Splendours of Malay World Textiles’ exhibition in Kuala Lumpur last year.
The exhibition was not only about Malay textiles, but also about all the Malay communities in Southeast Asia.
It was an educational afternoon as he shared stories, history, and connections that may have influenced the production as well as the designs of the 650 pieces of textiles, which were divided into 12 major categories.
It was the most talked-about exhibition in town!
I recently received an invitation to high tea at his home, which I eagerly accepted as it would be an honour to once again see his “treasure of clothes.”
With his vast textile collection of over 5,000 pieces, which I was told, I imagined his home decked up in textiles.
John Ang, a textile collector and Asian art history expert, whose face is wreathed in smiles whenever he greets you, is always impeccably dressed in his Baju Melayu if you see him at an event.
When I arrived at his home, Ang, dressed casually smart in a shirt made of natural fibres, was busy putting the finishing touches on a lovely Peranakan high tea spread on a long table.
Besides popiah (spring rolls), kuih pie tee (a Peranakan favourite), and other Nyonya kueh, there were cupcakes decorated elaborately with pretty kebaya frosting, which had all the ladies swarming around a tray of them.
His home is tastefully decorated with Asian artworks acquired throughout his travels.
He was born in the United States, and has lived in Singapore and Taiwan. Admitting to being old school and fascinated by kampungs, Ang chose Malaysia as his home.
In this abode of a clever and well-read man who is deeply into the arts and the history of textiles, there are some rich displays of heritage textiles and antiques in his living room, as well as many books on the wooden shelves that run the length of one long wall.
In his cosy living room with a veranda adorned with plants, his guests were entertained by live musicians and a very sweet-looking singer who was also one of the graceful models who presented Ang’s nostalgic collection of new sarong kebayas.
Batik has always been a key aspect of our culture and heritage, and it is also quite suitable for our equatorial climate, so it was nice to see some contemporary batik clothing on the male models.
This DIY show featured four sets.
The first was inspired by a childhood memory of seeing aunties dressed in sarongs kneeling on a church bench.
The first round featured a very subtle natural dyes collection with a subdued colour combination of brown, indigo blue, black, and white.
Though somewhat different from the Nyonya Kebaya’s usual bright and vibrant colours, the styles were well matched.
Later in the show, there was a harmonious mix of heritage and western influences from the 1990s.
Ang recalled how those who had returned from studying abroad wanted to wear some traditional clothing but may not have known how to put it together or how to wear it with a new style.
We had to agree that Ang not only entertained brilliantly with his stories, but he also threw a joyous party, with the guests letting loose and dancing a joget (a traditional Malay dance). Such was the merrymaking!
Even his DIY show was segmented with breaks for refreshments, with a variety of Nyonya foods on the long table tempting us to be more adventurous with our taste buds.
When asked whether his private textile collections are for sale, he said: “My antique and vintage textile collection is not for sale. What I presented was a new group of clothes that I had recently acquired and that, unlike the old ones, could be worn. It is to demonstrate my personal style of wearing sarong kebaya and men’s attire, which I believe has evolved as a result of my exposure to a wide range of traditional textiles.”
Models and music genres are also different. Their facial expressions and body movements really serve to highlight the clothing. Ang said that he chose the music based on what was popular at the time when sarong kebayas were still widely worn.
Despite not being a native of Singapore, Ang said that he spent the 1950s to 1970s there growing up.
“Many of the aspects of Singapore that I love are no longer there, yet they can still be found in Malaysia. That is the reason I have made the decision to come to Malaysia instead. This is the kampung life that I love since my grandmother lived in a kampung in Singapore,” he said, adding that he will definitely continue to hold such tea parties and share his passion for Malay textiles.
