Objets d'art from palm leaves

New Straits Times: Kuala Lumpur — June 15, 2002

– By Hisham Harun

If you saw a palm frond at the side of the road, would you bother picking it up? I wouldn't, what more waste my time trying to make something nice out of it.

But Brazilian Jurema W Baker, who has been residing in Malaysia - on and off for 12 years - has this knack of creating clever, useful and beautiful things out of items you wouldn't even bother looking twice at.

She's made objets d'art out of bamboo shoots, a variety of real fruits - including durian and mangosteen - that she preserved by lacquering, and now, palm leaves.

"For over a year, I have been studying this process of recycling palm leaves to be used as trays, napkin holders, candle holders and other decorative items," said Baker, who recently showcased her works of art during an exhibition at Aseana, Suria KLCC, and at the Hyatt Hotel in Kuantan.

A nature and art lover, Baker said she immediately saw the beauty in the fallen palm leaves, and was inspired to transform them.

Having studied Oriental art and the lacquering process in depth, Jurema decided to use this knowledge and apply what she learnt onto the leaves, to lend them a more decorative yet functional form.

The end products she came out with would depend on the size of the leaf. And they range from fruit bowl and napkin holder to flower and serving trays.

"The whole process begins with the gathering of the fallen leaf. Then you treat, shape, and lacquer it, before adding the finishing touches."

This is a meticulous process that takes about three weeks to complete. After the leaves of several species are gathered and put to dry, they are cleaned.

"Treatment includes sand papering the fronds to make them smooth and to remove some of the natural oils.

"The pieces are then cut into the desired shape and moulds are used to achieve the form suitable for its eventual purpose. Every part of the leaves is used.

"Once shaped the leaves are treated to stop them from chipping and to make them durable. This treatment is a mixture of products that when applied to the leaves makes them resistant."
Once all this has been done the finishing process begins.

"Various types of finishing can be used, although with a similar process of lacquering the results shown are very attractive.

"The lacquering process is very laborious and time consuming. About eight layers of a special varnish are applied. Every layer takes about 24 hours to dry and in between layers sand paper is used to smooth any imperfection, and finally a coat of beeswax is used as to enhance the finishing as well as for protection."

Baker, who studied Egyptology at Cairo American College, has been active in the art scene. In May, she had an exhibition at the Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya with 10 Brazilian artists.

She has had many shows in Brazil and has given lectures on Chinese and Islamic art at various educational centres there as well.