Each of the three stunning textiles shown below contains water elements so essential to our life.

Beti Naek

This beti naek textile from Miomafo contains the beso or frog motif stacked one on top of the other. Frogs are a symbol of the ancestors. When Timorese pray for rain and a frog appears it is a sign that the ancestors have answered the prayer and there will be successful season.

Warp ikat, three panels stitched together, open fringe, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Made in Miomafo, Timor, 2020.

160 x 116 cm / 63 x 45.5 in

Beti Krao

This deep Morinda-red textile called a beti krao is from Malaka contains the lenuk or turtle motif which symbolizes fertility. These turtles live in water and bear many eggs. Weavers believe that in creating this motif, they are requesting the ancestor to make the land fertile.

Warp ikat, two panels stitched together, open fringe, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Made in Malaka, Timor, 2020.

226 x 101 cm / 89 x 40 in

Beti Naek

This Miomafo indigo dyed textile contains the ika or fish motif. In Timor, different clans have a sacred stone, sacred water source, sacred plant, and sacred animal, similar to what the Western world understands as a totem. The fish on this cloth indicates that this group regard fish and any animals that live underwater as sacred and may not be eaten.

Warp ikat, three panels stitched together, open fringe, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Made in Miomafo, Timor, 2020.

194 x 109 cm / 76.5 x 43 in