The Art Reclaimed Archive

Indonesian anyaman is a longstanding traditional art form that dates back centuries and involves weaving together natural plant fibers to create both functional and decorative items, including baskets, mats, furniture, and containers. This craft is deeply intertwined with indigenous cultures, specifically the traditions of the Malay and Kalimantan communities. The intricate hand-woven techniques utilized in anyaman often feature motifs that reflect regional identity and elements of the natural world, demonstrating the cultural heritage and diversity of Indonesia.  The process of basketwork is characterized by the crossing of various plant materials to form a sturdy and usable clump, with a wide variety of natural resources being utilized in this practice, such as skewers, rattan, bamboo, roots, pandan, mengkuang, and jute. These materials are generally chosen for their ease of drying and softness, which make them suitable for weaving. The motifs incorporated into basketwork are re...

Batik, recognized as a significant cultural heritage of Indonesia, serves as a representation of artistic beauty, historical depth, and philosophical meaning embedded in its designs. Among the various styles of batik, Batik Jumputan is particularly notable for its distinctive production technique, which involves tying threads in a manner that sets it apart within Indonesia’s traditional batik repertoire. In Sumatra, Jumputan is referred to as 'pelangi,' which means 'rainbow.' Conversely, in Java, Jumputan is known as 'kain kembangan,' or 'flower cloth,' due to its dyeing process that reflects the colors of flowers. The creation of Batik Jumputan necessitates a detailed and precise manufacturing process, beginning with fabric preparation and extending through the intricate methods of thread tying and dyeing.  What distinguishes Batik Jumputan is the unique patterns formed through a meticulous thread-tying technique. This process allows artisans to create...

What is it? Silungkang Songket is a highly esteemed hand-woven brocade fabric hailing from West Sumatra, Indonesia, and serves as a significant representation of Minangkabau cultural heritage. This remarkable textile is primarily crafted from fine silk or cotton, showcasing intricate geometric designs that are often influenced by natural motifs such as stars, flowers, and bamboo. A distinctive feature of Silungkang Songket is the incorporation of glimmering gold or silver metallic threads, which are applied using a supplementary weft weaving technique. This method involves skillfully tucking these threads into the fabric, resulting in captivating visual effects that enhance the overall beauty of the textile. The nomenclature "songket" is derived from the word "sungkit," which translates to "hook" or "tuck," thus reflecting the weaving technique applied in its creation.  How to make it? Crafting Silungkang Songket involves a meticulous and labor-...

Noken is a traditional craft originating from Papua, particularly the Papua Selatan region, characterized by its unique hand-knitting or weaving techniques utilizing natural fibers such as tree bark, pandan leaves, or orchid fibers. This craft has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO since 2012 due to its significance in the daily lives of the Papuan people. Noken is essentially a knotted net or woven bag crafted by communities in the Papua and West Papua Provinces of Indonesia. It serves multiple purposes: men and women use it to carry various items, including plantation produce, catches from the sea or lakes, firewood, babies, small animals, and for shopping or storage within households. Additionally, Noken is worn during traditional festivities and is often presented as a peace offering, demonstrating its cultural importance and versatility in the sociocultural fabric of the region. The method of making Noken involves several intricate techniques. The process...

Hamilton is a musical created and led by music composer and songwriter, also occasionally dubbed a music legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda. His way of shedding light onto the forgotten life of U.S.A. founding father Alexander Hamilton, with the fast raps, energetic beats, and melodic harmonies, changed Broadway forever. Performance art was never the same after that. Well, modern performance art atleast. Although this modern world has led to rapid consumerism and swift online trends, society tends to forget about our very own roots. Of how, before we had Dear Evan Hansen or Chicago, before all the performance art majors at NYU, we only had our traditions. Fortunately enough, Indonesian cultures have kept up the work and preserved traditional theatre performance art forms for decades now. For example. Ponorogo’s very own Reog Ponorogo.  The Ponorogo District Government stated that Reog Ponorogo is a type of traditional dance that is presented as a dramatic dance art, becoming the main iden...

Prasi is a type of miniature painting or carving that originated in Bali and started to gain popularity in the 15th and 16th centuries. Painting on palm leaves is a long-underappreciated art form that can be used for both artistic meditation and inscription. Written awiq-awiq (village regulations) and kidung (strict, musical poetry) or kakawin (long form poetry), which were frequently retellings of folktales and Hindu mythology, were among the more practical and poetic uses for the content inscribed within the prasi. A single character typically fills the composition of a painted prasi. In the event that they didn't, written works have Balinese script etched throughout the palm leaves, while they are arranged in strips like a comic, showing actions throughout various individual folios.  The artisan demonstrates an artistic process through the application of black dye from the hazelnut onto the leaf, showcasing the creation of scripts, symbols, or illustrations. This practice is par...