HARTA, which stands for “HABIB: Action for Revival of our Traditions and Arts,” is the latest public initiative from HABIB. It has a remarkable collection of more than 800 unique pieces, collected over a period of 65 years, and the space includes a museum of heritage jewellery, a fascinating art gallery, and a café with an artistic vibe, all devoted to celebrating Malaysian culture, heritage, and art.
More than just an accessory
HABIB, the cherished Malaysian jeweller known for its exquisite craftsmanship and timeless elegance, recently unveiled HARTA, its latest public initiative, which stands for “HABIB: Action for Revival of our Traditions and Arts”.
The HARTA space, which measures around 8,000 square feet, is located above the HABIB Ampang II showroom in Selangor.
It is dedicated to celebrating Malaysian culture, heritage, and art, and it comprises a heritage jewellery museum, an inspiring art gallery, and a café with a creative environment where conversations can flow freely.
During the afternoon press conference, a fashion show was conducted, with models wearing HABIB jewelleries with traditional Malay and Peranakan Nyonya attire.
John Ang, a Malay textile collector and art historian, was spotted styling the models.
Dato’ Sri Meer Habib, Group Executive Chairman of HABIB, personally selected the jewellery worn by the models.
Joseph Lam, the Chief Marketing Officer, took the members of the media on an interesting tour of its heritage jewellery museum.
It was more of an edutainment tour than an educational one. We saw Datin Sri Zarida Noordin towards the end of the tour, pointing out her family members in the poster wall that featured memories of her Jawi Peranakan family and an old Penang mansion she had lived in as a child.
According to them, “With deep-rooted pride in its Penang origins, HABIB stands as a steadfast guardian of heritage and a purveyor of extraordinary jewellery in a place steeped in artistic history.”
Their primary collection focuses on the bejewelled traditions of their multi-ethnic Peranakan heritage, including the Peranakan Chinese, Peranakan Jawi, and Peranakan Chitty communities.
The remarkable collection of more than 800 unique pieces, collected over a period of 65 years, has been meticulously curated to transport visitors to a bygone era where the intricate artistry of Peranakan jewellery thrived, providing an invaluable glimpse into their multi-cultural identity.
There were certainly a lot of fascinating gold jewelleries such as earrings, some of which were shaped like grapes, rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, gold belts, gelang kaki or anklets, representing the predominant design for this type of Peranakan jewellery, and gold hair pieces used for sangoo or hair buns.
If you have the time, you may explore many more of their heritage jewellery.
While there is a considerable amount of literature on Malaysian history and culture, very little of it is centred on the jewellery traditions of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic groups.
Thus, the HARTA Museum serves as a reminder to all Malaysians that these objects of culture are of great significance to our society.
It is hoped that the many splendid examples of traditional jewellery collected by HABIB, Malaysia’s premier jeweller, over the past 65 years and now displayed here would continue to grow and inspire Malaysians to take greater pride in our rich artistic heritage.
Complementing the HARTA Museum is an art gallery that intends to promote the works of talented Malaysian artists and artisans.
The exhibition’s debut presentation, titled “OPEN HOUSE”, features amazing exclusive artworks from 16 talents, including established artists Chong Yan Chuah, James Seet, Nadirah Zakariya, and Umi Baizurah.
The showcase explores the multifaceted nature of domestic spaces, shedding light on the narratives, objects, technologies, emotions, and histories embedded within the walls of our homes.
Visitors will be captivated by the diversity of artistic expressions across different mediums, representing the unique perspectives and narratives of these talented individuals.
“We welcome all art, culture, and jewellery enthusiasts to join us on this remarkable adventure. If your curiosity drives you to explore the world of art, this space awaits you to embark on a sense-provoking journey,” said HARTA Director Mirsham Meer.
The café, located adjacent to the museum and gallery, is the third component of the HARTA space.
The contemporary space is where visitors may unwind, savour tasty food, and engage in conversations about Malaysian heritage.
It is open from Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
