Ulos cloth from the Batak, Sumatra, presented by Herra Pahlasari.I am passionate about textiles and their connection to my homeland, home, and family in Indonesia. Through the TRC project, I found textiles that resonated with my experiences of family traditions.
The search for stories and connections began when I saw Indonesian textiles that connected me to my memories of motherhood: Ulos from Toba, Sumatra; a beaded baby carrier called Bening from Borneo; and batik cloths from Java, Indonesia. This combination of textiles helped me slowly trace back my memories of my family and Indonesia.
Ulos, the famous textile from Sumatra, is usually given by a family when someone enters a new phase of life: at birth, a marriage, or at a funeral. It became a sacred object through a small ceremony called Mangupa, when the families give advice, guidance, and offers its prayers.
Long cloth of batik from Java, presented by Herra Pahlasari.The one I brought to Leiden is Ulos Sadum/Ulos Parompa, I received it from my family-in-law when I gave birth to my first child. Woven in colourful threads and ornaments in which yellow and green are added in with the Ulos Batak primary colours: red, white, and black. A greeting and message for the child to grow and live as valuable and useful for the others are embroidered on the fabric: Horas Mamake (enjoy using this) and Simbur Magodang (grow quickly and healthily) are embroidered onto the cloth.
The long batik cloth from Java reminds me of my childhood photograph with traditional dress, kebaya and samping and closeness with my daughter where I use it as gendongan (baby carrier). The motif shown here is called Parang, with the basic shape of the letter “S” taken from the ocean waves, which depict a spirit that never goes out.
Then, my curiosity made me connect with this beaded baby carrier from Kalimantan called Bening (TRC 2021.2370). Dayak people from Borneo/Kalimantan believe that the colourful beaded deity figures could bring comfort and peace while protecting the baby and the parents.
These experiences have deepened my curiosity about my roots and heritage, the silent message of the self and the others through Parompa, the warmth of family protection.
Beaded baby carrier, Dayak, Kalimantan, Indonesia, late 20th century (TRC 2021.2370).
