- Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, Melaka 75000, Malaysia
- Phone: 06-2865311
- Year of foundation: 1996
- Working hours: daily 09: 00-17: 00, closed on Monday
In the Malaysian city of Malacca is an interesting museum, which tells not about the usual things - colonial history, culture or trade of this region. Instead, the museum is dedicated to the beauty, or rather, the variety of ways to achieve it in the most diverse nations of the world.
History of the Museum of Beauty
Earlier in this part of the city of Malacca there were buildings of Dutch origin. It was on their ruins in 1960 that a building was built, which was originally used to house the Malacca Historical City Municipal Council.
The official opening of the Museum of Beauty took place in 1996. At that time it was only a dull reinforced concrete building. That is why in September 2011 the museum was closed for modernization. The modern view of the Museum of Beauty was acquired in August 2012, since then it is open to all comers.
Uniqueness
The museum tells about non-standard approaches to solving the issues of beauty, which are used by the peoples of Asia and Africa. Much attention is paid to the following rituals:
- tattooing the skin;
- implantation of circular discs in the lower lips;
- dental prosthetics;
- Scarification procedures (scarification);
- restriction of foot growth;
- correction of cranial bones to achieve an ideal oval shape.
In the Museum of Beauty there are many exhibits devoted to the procedure of tooth extraction and neck stretching. This technique is widely used by the peoples of Myanmar and northern Thailand. The length of the neck of the girls of these nationalities are absolute record holders. This is achieved by adding copper rings to their necks. Initially, this ritual was designed to protect against tiger bites, now it is a testament to female beauty. Over time, the neck lengthens, and the bones of the collar part decrease, which creates the illusion of a long neck.
In the Museum of Beauty you can study sculptures demonstrating the results of implantation of circular plates on the lips. This technique has been practiced in many African and Brazilian cultures for 10,000 years.
Excursions in the Museum of Beauty
This cultural object is interesting not only for its shocking exhibits, but also for cognitive lectures. For example, the guides tell the story of Ethel Granger - a woman who was known for her slender waistline. Her girth was only 33 cm, which was barely enough for the spine and internal organs. Despite this, the woman lived up to 77 years and died a natural death.
All the techniques described in the Museum of Beauty are still used by many people. Most often this is due to the popularity of ethnotourism: in many countries these rituals are conducted only in order to attract the attention of tourists.
The aim of the museum is to interpret the meaning of beauty through a visual comparison of cultures and rituals of the peoples of the world. It allows you to evaluate these standards from different perspectives.
How to get to the Museum of Beauty?
A collection of unusual exhibits can be seen while traveling through the Malaysian city of Malacca . The building, which houses the Museum of Beauty, is located in the southern part of the city, 800 meters from the Strait of Malacca. From the city center, here you can take a taxi on the road number 5, or Jalan Merdeka. If you walk on the street Jalan Panglima Awang, then you can be at the museum in 45 minutes.
In the same building there is a national museum and museum Kite, in which a large collection of kites is exhibited.