Singaporean Collector Peter Lee on Checks, Chintz and Multicultural Ports
Peter Lee, a Singaporean collector of Peranakan Chinese ancestry, has spent his life studying and collecting Indian textiles. His fascination with these fabrics began at a young age, when he would watch his father wear traditional Pulicat sarongs at home. Lee's interest in Indian textiles has taken him on a journey across Asia, where he has learned about the complex cultural exchange that has shaped the region's history.
From Peranakan to South Indian Textile Collectors
Lee believes that the 'love of checks' unites Peranakan and South Indian textile collectors. He has traced his Peranakan genealogy back nine generations and has learned much about his community's culture. The kebaya, an open jacket worn by women, was of particular interest to Lee, who discovered that its design was influenced by many cultures.
Lee's collection spans Tamil and Indian textiles, Peranakan treasures, old photographs, and objects that tell stories of trade, migration, and cultural exchange across Asia. He credits his interest to three mentors: his father, mother, and paternal uncle. His mother was an instinctive collector, with a keen eye for beauty and a passion for collecting.
Hybridity and the Power of Objects
Lee is fascinated by the concept of hybridity and the way objects can transcend cultural boundaries. He believes that objects without a definitive identity, which historians would use to typify a culture, period, or community, are often left out of their studies. The transient culture of Asian ports was ideal for such objects, which celebrate human enterprise at its most unbridled and egalitarian.
Lee's collection includes kalamkari textiles, which he has been collecting from various world markets. He is particularly drawn to the production of two-sided kalamkari for Southeast Asian islands, where the textiles were often draped in a way that revealed both sides. This required the artisans to draw and dye the pattern on two sides of the cloth, creating a unique and versatile design.
Exceptional/Everyday: New Acquisitions, New Perspectives
Lee is now preparing for an exhibition opening at the Peranakan Museum in Singapore, titled Exceptional/Everyday: New Acquisitions, New Perspectives. The exhibition will feature 14 objects, both exceptional and everyday, that reshape what we think of Peranakan heritage. Lee believes that this exhibition will highlight the importance of hybridity and multicultural exchange in shaping the region's history.
Lee's work as a collector, curator, and researcher has taken him on a journey across Asia, where he has learned about the complex cultural exchange that has shaped the region's history. His passion for Indian textiles and his commitment to preserving the history of multicultural ports have made him a leading figure in the field of Asian art and culture.
