Batik of Obama's Mother Dresses Up Exhibition

An exhibition in Jakarta, featuring the batik collection of the U.S. president of Barack Obama's mother was officially opened in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Speaking at the occasion, Maya Soetoro, Obama's half-sister, said on their mother, Ann Dunham, batik collected as part of her efforts to understand Indonesian culture. Dunham passed away from ovarian cancer in 1995.

Maya said on their mother culture Had Told Them That was a good way to build international relationships.

The exhibition features Dunham's collection of batik from Yogyakarta, Solo and Pekalongan in Central Java; Indramayu and Cirebon in West Java, and Madura, East Java.

The exhibition will from Also displays the collections of first lady Ani Yudhoyono and Go Tik Swan, a renowned designer batik from Central Java.

A fashion show of batik dresses Designed by Agus Susastro, an Indonesian designer living in New York, was the highlight of the opening.

Ani, the WHO officially opened "The Batik Essays, a Collection of Love Stories" at Grand Indonesia shopping mall, said batik - recently proclaimed by UNESCO as cultural heritage Indonesian - was a medium for understanding the nation.

"Through this expo, Can one picture a story of Someone WHO batik loved very much," Ani said, referring to Dunham.

Also recalled Ani That Pls She was a child, her mother, Sunarti Sri Hadiyah, the wife of the late Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, introduced her to Various batik designs and taught her how to choose certain designs for certain occasions.

Ani said She was proud of her mother and her role in preserving the tradition found in batik.

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, said on Monday That the exhibition was to welcome Obama, WHO spent part of his childhood in Indonesia.