Woven Prayers & Dreams

Woven by the Dayak Desa women of Sintang regency in West Kalimantan, kain bidang is a single panel ikat textile. This textile is an important part of ceremonies, offerings are placed on it or it may be used to wrap an offering. The mordanting process to achieve the red dye requires many different foraged plants and must be performed with a ritual. Dayak textiles have long been regarded for their unique designs, many of which were inspired by dreams.

This textile has three different motifs, tandan berangan, Pelangka and Sandung. Tandan berangan are symbols of success and fertility. Pelangka refers to traditional tool that removed rice husks before there were machines. A pelangka is also used by a medium or tabib to repel evil spirits. The sandung is a shrine that houses the skulls of enemies and/or the skulls and bones of deceased family members and ancestors. The sandung is used as a place of worship during ceremonies that celebrate battle victories.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, commercial cotton, single panel, twisted fringe, natural dyes. Ikat, tied, dyed and woven in Sintang, Kalimantan, 2024. Size 168 x 63 cm / 66 x 25 in