Hand Woven Ikat Tapestry, "Tamarind Fruit"

Believed to possess magical and protective powers, the gerinsing cloths of Bali entrance with natural and soothing patterns. Ni Luh Suryati evokes a batun cagi (tamarind fruit) design, using 100% cotton threads to orchestrate the serene blend of colors.

The spectacular geringsing textiles of Bali are elaborated using the double ikat method. Ikat means "to knot" in Indonesian and Malay, and it is a time-consuming process known only to a handful of weavers around the world. Hand-spun cotton is initially dyed an eggshell-yellow hue using the oil of the kemiri nut, before the weaver determines which sections of the thread are to be dyed with what colors. She binds bunches of the fabric together with raffia, creating a tight knot resistant to the dyes in which the piece is to be placed. This process is carried out for each successive color, as the artisan uses natural extracts, such as indigo for the blue tones and root barks for the spectacular vermilion hue. A simple handloom is employed to execute the weave.