 One
of the foremost cultural figures of Laos, Ms. Douangdeuane Bounyavong
has contributed to promoting traditional Lao culture, particularly
textiles and traditional weaving techniques, and studying and
disseminating Lao literature.
Born into
an intellectually active family, Ms. Bounyavong received her
higher education in Laos and France. After returning home, she
dedicated herself to the study of classical Lao literature and
traditional culture. She devoted herself to studying the Lao
classical epic, "Thao Hung Thao Cheuang." She received
wide acclaim after publishing the results of her research into
Lao rituals and tradition described in this epic.
As she began
to see her studies into classical Lao literature bear fruit,
Ms. Bounyavong extended her interest in traditional culture
beyond literature. She turned her attention to textiles, another
aspect of the country's traditional culture. Laos has a rich
heritage of traditional textiles. Indeed, there are so many
that it is said each family has its own distinctive textiles
and clothing. From her research into the significance of the
different motifs incorporated in these textiles, her activities
grew to encompass a wide range of textile-related subjects.
In addition to historical research into traditional Lao textiles,
she became involved with preserving and succeeding traditional
textile techniques, activities to raise awareness, efforts to
improve the social status of the women weaving the textiles,
and exhibiting these textiles abroad.
She established
the Group for the Promotion of Art and Lao Textiles in 1990
as part of a group of five women, beginning full-fledged efforts
to preserve the textiles and the traditional techniques used
to make them. The following year, she served as a consultant
to the Preservation and Promotion of Lao Textiles project conducted
by the Lao Women Union with a grant from UNICEF. As part of
this project, she established the Sin Sai Mai textile gallery.
That same year, 1991, she attended the Asia Textile Conference
held at Chiang Mai University in Thailand as a representative
of Laos. She also exhibited textiles designed under her supervision
and received the UNESCO Craft Prize. Ms. Bounyavong has continued
her enthusiastic activities for restoring and developing traditional
Lao textiles by holding textile exhibits and workshops in Thailand,
the United States, France, and Japan in addition to Laos. Her
book, "Infinite Design: The Art of Silk", published
in 1995, won plaudits in Laos and abroad as the first research
work on traditional Lao textiles written by a Lao. She further
promoted her textile research through a project with the Japan
Foundation. That research led to the publication of "Legends
in the Weaving" in 2001.
Ms. Bounyavong's
wide-ranging activities are supported by the strong resolve
shown in her statement, "The traditional Lao textile is
an integral part of our culture. It has great value, and I devote
myself to protecting its techniques and tradition." These
activities have made a significant contribution to preserving,
inheriting, and developing traditional Lao and Asian culture.
She is indeed a worthy laureate of the Arts and Culture Prize
of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes. |
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