Samyama

Many of you may have heard of the gallery Artasia in Taipei, Taiwan. Through this gallery, director, John Ang, introduced Thai, Cambodian, Laotian, Burmese, Indonesian, Bhutanese, Tibetan, Indian as well as Chinese minority textiles to the Taiwanese market.

Over the years John has also advised the Taiwan National Palace Museum’s collection of Southeast Asian and Indian textiles and through him have acquired quite a few masterpieces.

After 16 years of directing Artasia, John took a 6 year hiatus to study and teach yoga and now he is back in full force to direct his new gallery, Samyama Co., Ltd, which focuses on textiles and crystals.

His gallery is unique not just in this unusual combination of textiles and crystals but also in the way he showcases his textiles, providing for each piece the best stage to perform through their special mounting and framing methods and display.

Though John was born in Chicago, he grew up in Singapore, and being in the vicinity had many early experiences with Southeast Asian textiles. Perhaps from the photos of his gallery and some of his stellar pieces you may see his longtime friendship with them and catch a glimpse of his passion, knowledge, wisdom and taste for the sublime in textiles.

On Friday, May 23rd at 2:30pm his gallery together with Julia Boutique, situated downstairs from his gallery, will kick off with a fashion show, “ Exotic Urbanism.’ The show will combine some haute couture from Oscar de la Renta’s and Nina Ricci’s collections with some of his exquisite antique textiles from exotic places such as Lembata in Indonesia or Sam Neau in Laos.

John welcomes all friends and members of Rugrabbit who are in Taipei or will be traveling there to his grand opening. RSVP is required.

Published article:

  • 1920s Pidan, ceremonial hanging, silk pictorial ikat with natural dyes depicting episode of Vessantara Jataka. Khmer people, Cambodia
    price:  Inquiry Only

  • Samyama Selected: 1940-­50s Geringsing selendang, shoulder cloth of cotton double ikat, all natural dyes. Bali Aga people, Southeast Bali, Indonesia. 110 cm ... read more
    price:  Inquiry Only