Pandanus Art and Craft

A huge variety of artistic and functional craft products can be made using the leaves, fibres and fruit of different kinds of Pandanus. Although art and craft products will be discussed in our main open forum, our aim here is to focus on details and the practical issues surrounding the supply and trade of Pandanus products.

In 2007, a Pandanus gallery and workshop was created at the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, as part of a three month special exhibition entitled: "The Great Ocean Voyage: Vaka Moana and Island Life Today". Our exhibition visitors enjoyed seeing a variety of Pandanus art and craft, and many joined our craft-making workshops to learn about the basic methods of plaiting Pandanus leaves. The gallery and related workshops were very successful, and one aim of creating this group is to encourage others, in any country, to try collecting and exhibiting Pandanus products.

While some kinds of Pandanus product can be found through the internet, the best places to find them are in the local markets in regions where Pandanus is frequently used in daily life. Pandanus is not the only plant material used for plaiting mats, hats, and baskets (the most common kinds of product sold), and it is also fun to learn about the other plants used for plaited textiles.

Here are some topics that we can discuss in the future:

Product descriptions (including their cultural significance)
Suppliers of raw materials
Product suppliers
Import and export regulations and treatments
Books explaining techniques
Common uses and special uses
Collections and collectors
Exhibitions

Please suggest any other topics that fit within the general aims of this group, or within the particular discussion categories above.