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Tais are an important part of the culture of East Timorese people. They are an essential part of many of the traditional activities, and their designs represent important stories, records and beliefs. The virtualMuseum seeks to record the stories of tais in East Timorese culture, by inviting anyone with an interest to contribute comments, suggestions and articles on subjects such as:
- the materials used - both in older and newer pieces
- the looms and other machinery
- cultural occasions - birth, death, marriage, installation of leaders, and so on
- patterns, motifs and meanings
- the changing scene - loss of expertise in preparing materials, in weaving, and in meanings of the patterns
We believe that several people or institutions might be active in this area. Please contribute to the virtualMuseum, OR at least let us know who you are and what you are doing so that we can publish the details and thus assist in sharing all information on the importance of tais. Contributions can be sent by email or regular mail, see our Contact page.
To start the stories, we have put together a short story, Then and Now, from material collected during a visit to Dili and Suai in April, 2001.
A second story, Threads of Hope by Dawn Delany appears in Craft Culture, an online publication produced by Craft Victoria for considering the role of the hand as a creative tool in contemporary society. Dawn spent three months of 2001 in East Timor assisted by an Ian Potter Cultural Trust grant. She interviewed and photographed over sixty women from all walks of life as part of a broader project to highlight the crucial role that women are making towards reconstruction and their contribution to the independence struggle.
Updated: 18Jun2002
