Author: Rens Heringa, 2010, 92pg. (English). Softcover
Publisher: Fowler Museum at UCLA, California, USA
Nini Towok, the venerable grandmother figure with sunken eyes, is envisioned as transmitting her handspun cotton yarn to the earthly realm in the ethereal form of moonbeams. This luminous thread constitutes the foundational raw material of Kerek’s intricate textile system, a cultural matrix imbued with layered symbolic meanings. The spinning wheel of Nini Towok transcends its utilitarian function as a weaver’s instrument; it emerges as a profound metaphor for the cyclical nature of existence itself. Within Javanese cosmology, Nini Towok is perceived as the celestial agent who initiates this perpetual rotation, her presence discernible upon the moon’s surface as it traverses the darkened sky above Java. Thus, the act of spinning is not merely a craft but a cosmological gesture, binding together material production, mythic imagination, and the rhythm of life’s eternal recurrence.
Author: Peter ten Hoopen, 2024, 233pg. (English). Hardcover
Publisher: University of Hongkong, Museum and Art Gallery, Hongkong
This volume presents an examination into the surprising asymmetry hidden in the work of Sumbanese weavers. In his study, ten Hoopen reveals levels of virtuosity that remained overlooked for over a century of Indonesian textile research. The richly decorated men’s wraps, hinggi from the author’s own collection and of the Hongkong University Museum, have commonly been described as symmetric along both axes. Sumba’s noble weavers managed to create asymmetry by hiding tiny visual elements that disrupted symmetry and were made to be overlooked. For a deeper understanding, interested readers and researchers are encouraged to do further research into the matter.
Author: Maggie Kate, 1996. 32 pgs. (English)
Publisher: Dover Publication, New York
This volume has been widely praised as a highly accessible repository of royalty-free clip art. Designed with budget-conscious artists, crafters, and educators in mind, it offers reproducible imagery that draws upon the rich visual traditions of Native American art. The collection features motifs from a wide range of Indigenous peoples, including the Navajo, Hopi, Sioux, and Kwakiutl. Each design reflects distinctive cultural aesthetics, ceremonial symbolism, and traditional craftsmanship, making the resource not only practical but also culturally enriching. Educators will find these motifs invaluable for classroom projects, while artisans and crafters can adapt them for textiles, printmaking, and decorative arts. The reproducible format ensures ease of use without compromising the integrity of the original designs.
Author: Quorina Ginting, 2014. 16pg. (Indonesian)
Publisher: Ginting & Reksodiputro, Jakarta
The catalog showcases masterpieces of the Islands, among others are Batik pieces, from Gusti Putri Mangkunegara, Go Tik Swan Panembahan Hardjonagoro, Iwan Tirta and Oey Soe Tjoen.
Author: Denys Lombard, 2000. 498pgs. (Indonesian). Softcover.
Publisher: Gramedia, Jakarta
The second volume engages with the Asian maritime network, tracing the profound consequences of Islam’s arrival and its entwinement with global trade routes, particularly those linking Java to China. It elucidates how Java became deeply integrated into transoceanic commerce, shaped by Islamic currents and Chinese influences. Maritime Trade: Java emerges as a pivotal nexus within the global spice trade, its ports serving as conduits for commodities that bound Asia to the wider world. Islamic Influx: The spread of Islam introduced egalitarian ideals and invigorated urban mercantile life, fostering new forms of social and economic dynamism. Chinese Contribution: The Chinese diaspora played a decisive role in advancing commerce and technology, embedding their expertise within Java’s economic fabric. Coastal Culture: A striking contrast is drawn between the cosmopolitan ethos of the Pasisir (coastal) communities and the agrarian traditions of the interior, underscoring the cultural plurality of Java’s historical landscape.
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