Ikat Ying Yang Balance Pattern

A cloth like this black and white ikat, mud dyed textile from Sulawesi will take up to 2 months to complete with a single woman overseeing all aspects of the work, tying motifs onto threads from memory, dying the threads and weaving. All while she continues to take care of her family and work in the fields to bring home food. The sale of these textiles represents a significant source of income for these weavers. 

The primary motif on this textile is called ulu karua and refers to the eight traditional leaders who have specific roles and responsibilities for the well being of their community. According to legend, an ancestor was given these motifs on an old cloth while meditating in a cave which he then brought back to the community to ask the weavers to weave.

Information about the makers will be supplied with each cloth.
Warp ikat, single panel, twisted fringe, commercial cotton, natural dyes. Ikat tied, dyed and woven in Mamuju, Sulawesi, 2017. Size 184 x 23 cm / 72.5 x 9 in