Indonesia Exhibition
In November of 2019 I exhibited the textile experiments I did whilst away in Indonesia. I learned Batik on Java, Ikat on Bali and Parompa in a backstrap loom on Sumatra. I also exhibited photographs I had taken and played a soundscape of the sounds I had recorded.
Most of the textiles are handkerchief format and completely one off pieces using natural dyes including Indigo. If you are interested in seeing them or exhibiting them, let me know.
Here is the soundscape made up of a plethora of sounds recorded whilst travelling.
Many thanks to Irina for hosting me at 4bid Gallery, OT301, Charlie Prince for weaving the sounds together for me and Charlotte Kropholler for capturing the opening.
I would also like to thank Sandra Neissen for her endless encouragement and for inviting me to learn at the weaving centre she set up in Simalungun. You can read her blogpost on my time there. Thanks to Lasma, Agus, Opu Elza, the Klungkung family and Tatang at Leksa Ganesha Batik Gallery.
Gallery Text:
Indonesia is a country that had always intrigued me with its powerful Gamelan music and abundant traditions. With a one way ticket I ended up spending three months on Java, Bali and Sumatra. Textiles being my main interest, I looked for people to learn from and ended up doing batik, ikat and the Batak weaving called parompa.
Generous local families opened their doors to me and allowed me to experience their daily lives together with them. We visited Indigo farms, took part in ceremonies and exchanged ideas and inspiration.
I was taught traditional methods and experimented with them. Batik requires a lot of patience and time, using a ‘canting’ pen you draw images with hot wax. Being a novice I was accidentally dripping wax on to the intricate design I had just made and getting very frustrated. So I decided to embrace the drips and play with them. I started to dip the materials directly into the pot of hot wax and enjoying the organic abstract forms which resulted.
During my time there I photographed the textures, details and rich colour palette of the islands as well as recording the many new and mesmerising sounds I encountered.
