An exhibition of textiles and musical instruments from countries belonging to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – was opened at the offices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on September 24. Offering examples of how the region’s different peoples combine the use of natural materials, such as wood, bamboo, plants, and fibres, the exhibition is part of a wider effort to showcase the world’s creative diversity and the role of the intellectual property system in protecting it, according to a statement from WIPO. ‘It is a great honour for WIPO to host this exhibition, which illustrates the immense richness and cultural diversity of South East Asia,’ commented WIPO Director General Dr Kamil Idris. ‘Exploring the cultural artifacts of these countries provides a fascinating glimpse of the deep-rooted cultural heritage of South East Asia.’ ‘At WIPO we are actively engaged with our member states in promoting a broader understanding of the value of human creativity and innovation, its role as a vital national resource, and how all nations can benefit from an efficient and equitable intellectual property system that encourages such creativity. We are also exploring how the intellectual property system relates to the preservation and protection of traditional knowledge and expressions of folklore, and how it can help safeguard our heritage for present and future generations,’ he added. In addition to the exhibition, a master puppeteer from Malaysia performed a shadow puppet play at WIPO last week, to coincide with the opening.