From 22.02. to 31.05. the museum in Luisenstraße is
The House of Miao Silk Culture
The new temporary exhibition which will be shown in Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS) from 22nd February to 31st May 2015 is dedicated to Miao Silk Culture. This exhibition tells the woven stories which the Dutchwoman, Ien Rappoldt, discovered in the Chinese province Guizhou. During her study trips, Rappoldt learned from the Miao women how to apply the traditional textile techniques which are reflected in the unique exhibits presented in the exhibition celebrating its premiere in Germany in Haus der Seidenkultur.
The curators Dr. Ulrike Denter und Ilka Neumann provide some details about the traditional clothing of the Miao ethnic minority and their culture:
There are various Miao subgroups and this is reflected in the diversity of the traditional costumes. The most striking group, the so-called “Long Horn Miao”, live mainly in Guizhou and Hunan. The female members of this group wear a grand headdress made of silver which has horns similar to those of a water buffalo. In addition they wear long garments with rich silver decorations. Such a traditional costume weighs up to 22kg.
Then there are the heavy earrings which lead to a distinct deformation of the earlobes as the women grow older. The Miao minority in China has the reputation of being independent and rebellious. In the mid-19th century there was a Miao insurgence against the Qing rulers and the people allowed themselves to be recruited by the Americans during the Vietnam War.
In China there are 55 national minorities. The Miao groups form one of them. The Miao population lives mainly in Guizhou, Yunnan and Hunan, as well as in the central and south-western provinces of China. Over the course of time, the members of the Miao groups have developed their own customs and conventions. On feast days, the young Miao girls dress in the clothes which they have embroidered themselves and wear beautiful silver jewellery.
There is no written Miao language. Therefore the stories and legends are passed from one generation to the next orally. In addition historical scenes are embroidered as the pattern in textiles or stamped into the silver jewellery. “The textiles and the jewellery therefore become wearable stories; stories which we will relate during the exhibition,“ says HdS spokesperson Dieter Brenner.
Butterflies are often found in the textile stories of the Miao. The Miao people believes that they were originally butterflies”, explain Ulrike Denter and Ilka Neumann. The two curators clearly show what great significance the traditional costumes have for the Miaos in the following example:
From an early age each young Miao girl embroiders her own wedding dress herself. The needle is the brush and the threads are the paints. They, as it were, “paint” their own pictures on the dresses in the hope of an even better life. Even if it takes three to five years, it is worthwhile because, with the dress they have made themselves, the girls reap not only praise from others but also gain the affection of handsome young men.
The fine silver jewellery which they wear weighing up to 15 kilograms also belongs to the dowry. Therefore it is understandable that silversmith is a very highly regarded profession in Miao regions. This skill is passed from father to son to ensure the continuation of the family business.
The exhibition at HdS will be accompanied by numerous events. For example special tours of the exhibition, topic evenings and workshops are planned where the embroidery and plaiting techniques will be demonstrated.
The exhibition can be visited until 31.05.2015 Wednesdays to Fridays from 15.00 to 18.00 hours and Sundays from 13.00 to 17.00 hours. There will be special tours on 8th March, 22nd March and 26th April at 14.00 hours. Group tours can be arranged by appointment under Telephone 02151-510812 or per email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
These unique and precious traditional costumes of the Miao culture are on show at the Haus der Seidenkultur Photos: HdS
Butterflies frequently tell the stories on Miao textiles.
The cultures meet: Old Miao loom, young female weaver and new mobile phone.
Press Contact:
Dieter Brenner
Press spokesperson Haus der Seidenkultur
Telephone 02151-510812
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.