Indonesian textiles donation from Dr John Yu and Traijak Poolkasikorn
Connoisseurs of Asian arts and avid collectors, Dr John Yu and artist Traijak Poolkasikorn have generously donated over eighty Balinese and Indonesian textiles to the Australian Museum.
In 2023, Dr John Yu and artist Traijak Poolkasikorn generously donated over eighty Balinese and Indonesian textiles to the World Cultures Collection.
Dr Yu is a retired Sydney paediatrician with a long record of achievements in public health, education, medicine and the arts. Dr Yu is also a recognised connoisseur of Asian art and an avid collector whose learning, knowledge and donations have benefited many Australian museums and galleries and fostered public appreciation of Asian culture in Australia. Lately, Dr Yu has been collecting and sharing his expertise with likeminded colleague Traijak Poolkasikorn.
Traijak Poolkasikorn is an Australian visual artist of Thai ancestry. He brings the elements of Buddhist tradition and Australian bush to his paintings and experimental media. Poolkasikorn has a keen interest in Asian art and textiles.
There are over 3500 items of art, accessories, clothing and tools in the World Cultures Indonesian Collection. The collection has a particular strength in Balinese culture. Dr Yu’s donation expands that collection, with some very fine examples of distinct Balinese fabric pieces such as geringsing and lamak.
The lamak is one of Dr Yu’s favourites, used as a mat spread out for the gods, inviting them to attend ceremonies and receive offerings in the temple or shrine. It speaks to the interwoven fabric of social, artistic and cultural issues that drives his collecting.
