A Day Out at a Museum!

I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a museum girl. But today, I visited a museum with some expat ladies.  Not any old museums.... but the Harry Darsono Museum. Honestly, I didn't know who he was before. But all the ladies who has been to his museum raved about their visit.. as Harry himself would be the museum guide. And he is indeed a very flamboyant and interesting person. 

Well, who is he? ...I hear you ask.

He's Indonesia's first haute couturier who has designed for Princess Diana and other celebrities. His tales about his life and work is indeed very interesting. 

I really enjoyed my visit today....more so that I expected. I thought "People say must go. Go lor". All-black as requested as the dress-code...so that we could wear some of the haute couture.

Yes. Tried my first haute couture today. :-D ...err but not the gowns worn by the famous people lah.

Toured around the museum ...was shown gowns worn by Princess Diana, Princess Something from Belgium, Queen Sirikit, Queen Rania, Queen of Bahrain, costumes from plays such as Julius Caesar, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet etc etc. 

I think what he said was one day (think after a devastating fire which destroyed a substantial amount of his prized possessions), he just decided to appoint 13 agents to approach his clients to purchase back his designs.

Also visited the workshop where some of the work were being done. 

And we had tea accompanied by a soprano... with Harry at the piano. He is indeed a very talented guy. (Actually, he said there is no such thing as talent. Only determination and dedication) ...But I still have to say he is very talented. He plays the piano, the harp and the cello. He's also pursued a degree in psychology and has published a few books on this topic and other. Not only that, he has designed the interior of the BMW 7 series, grand pianos manufactured by Steinway & Sons, china, jewellery, clocks, performance stage and the list goes on. He draws. He paints. And would you be surprised to know that he was ADHD and couldn't speak till he was about 9 years old? He lived in Paris from this age...and ran away to the Himalayas when he was 14. He lives in London now... but has a penthouse here. 

Oh. Did I mention that he made us sing "I believe in Angels " (Abba song) along with the soprano. He said he really does...as the fire destroyed many things except some key items from his troubled childhood.

If interested, you can read an old article on the LA Times about Harry here. 

I took loads of pictures...but blogger doesn't want to upload them. So wait for next post. Ok?