EMBASSY MARKS NATIONAL ARTS MONTH WITH VISIT TO “OCEANS THAT SPEAK” EXHIBITION AT ISLAMIC ARTS MUSEUM MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 FEBRUARY 2025 - In celebration of National Arts Month, Philippine Embassy personnel visited the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) on 21 February 2025, for a guided tour of the exhibition “Oceans That Speak: Islam and the Emergence of the Malay World” (“Samudera Berbicara Pembentukan Dunia Melayu-Islam”).

The exhibition examines the role of maritime routes in the the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean as conduits for travel, trade and migration, and their contribution to shaping a Malay world that is a complex tapestry of cultural adaptations and interactions.

Ms. Siti Marina Mohd Maidin, Curator and Project Manager of the exhibition, led the guided tour. She highlighted a special section focused on the Philippines, which featured a Qu’ran, body armor and a hunting blade from Mindanao. The body armor (⁠Kurab-A-Kulang) consists of layered plates of carabao (water buffalo) horn joined with brass chainmail. The clasps were shaped into curvilinear motifs or okir, found mostly in the traditional wood carvings of the Southern Philippines including the Maranaos. The hunting blade, called a “barong,” has both sides of the blade engraved with the phrase “Nasrun min Allah” (Help from Allah), taken from a popular verse of Surah al-Saff abundantly engraved and inscribed on weapons and talismanic shirts from the Gunpowder empires - Safavid, Ottoman and Mughal.

The Embassy was welcomed by Ms. Rashidah Salim, Senior Manager of IAMM, along with Mr. Aqmal Boestamam, Assistant Marketing and Event Manager and Mr. Wan Nazir, Communications Executive.

Ambassador Maria Angela Ponce conveyed to Ms. Salim the Embassy’s deep appreciation of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, led by its Director, Dr. Syed Mohamad Albukhary, and looked forward to future collaborative activities between the Embassy and the museum.

This activity is part of the Embassy's initiative to deepen its personnel's appreciation of the rich Islamic heritage shared by both the Philippines and Malaysia while fostering a deeper understanding of the role of art in bridging cultures.

The Embassy encourages the Filipino community in Malaysia to visit the exhibition. It is open to the public daily from 09:30 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. until 15 June 2025. END

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