The “East Meets West: Malaysian Life and Culture” art exhibit offers the simple beauty of Malaysia through the crafts and objects of this Eastern culture’s everyday life.

The featured art on display in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union showcases textiles such as batiks made of silk and cotton as well as baju karung, the traditional dress worn by women in Malaysia. Toys such as a wau bulan, or moon kite — so named because of the crescent shape of the bottom of the kite — and a top are part of the exhibit, along with many brass items such as candle holders, incense burners, trays, and containers used in traditional wedding ceremonies.

The photographs in the exhibit add a strong visual element to understanding the Malaysian culture by illustrating daily life with pictures of open air markets, countryside buildings, maritime life, traditional Malaysian houses supported by stilts and young children at play.

In the show, the historical culture of Malaysia is integrated with its present culture.

“The exhibit shows Malaysia’s present culture, but it also explores how their history still influences them today,” says Letitia Hansen, program adviser of the arts department for the Memorial Union. “For example, there are photos of traditional dress for both men and women along with examples of clothing worn today.”

The items in the traveling exhibit were given to Iowa State as a contribution by the Historical Museum of Terengganu located in Malaysia, due to the Iowa Sister States Partner Program.

Janet Hart Heinicke has served as chairwoman of the committee for Iowa Sister States Program and is currently serving as a chairwoman for the project. She has traveled to Terengganu six times.

“After four years of negotiation and work with the Terengganu museum, I was able to secure a gift of the artifacts which are in the exhibition,” Heinicke says. “They are a gift from the museum and will be in Iowa permanently.”

The state of Iowa has had a partnership through the Iowa Sister States Partner Program with the state of Terengganu for more than 15 years. Terengganu is located next to the South China Sea and it takes about 15 hours of air travel time to get there from Iowa.

“The director of the Historical Museum of Terengganu has been in Iowa and members of the ISU College of Family and Consumer Science have traveled to Terengganu as part of a research trip to learn about the manufacture, production and marketing of batik,” Heinicke says. “It seemed a natural outgrowth of these experiences to try to arrange an exhibition of some of the cultural artifacts of the partner state for the people of Iowa, so that they might learn more about this culture.”

Hansen says the cultural theme, which contrasts the painters of Iowa theme the Pioneer Room previously hosted, comes with the goal of bringing variety to Iowa State.

“We try to get a wide range of art exhibits at the Memorial Union,” Hansen says. “In addition to student exhibits, we look for shows that would be related to or of interest to the Iowa State community. Having this exhibit was just one way to connect with the Malaysian population.”

Heinicke says the program does hope to arrange an out-bound exhibition of comparable materials from Iowa to send to Malaysia, but work has not begun on that project yet.

“Until recently, the largest number of international students at ISU have been from Malaysia,” Heinicke says. “There is an active Malaysian student association at ISU. They have prepared a videotape of a lion dance … the sort of dance which would be danced at festivals and ceremonies.”

The video accompanies the show and is available for viewing at the ISU Union Desk. Jim Carl Ng, the captain of the dance team, can be contacted for further information about the dance.

“In a time when there is a need for understanding other cultures, such an exhibition seems especially appropriate,” Heinicke says.

The exhibit will remain at Iowa State until Dec. 2. Since the room doubles as a meeting room, call ahead to make sure there is no prior meeting scheduled. For open viewing hours call 294-1437.