Pre-departure

Jhoni, a 63 year old man from West Sumatra, owns a quirky little shop off the busy road from Padang City to the interiors of Padang Pariaman. Driving by, it blends in from the other buildings surrounding it, but when you go inside, you are transported into his creative process. A big sign saying, ‘The Art Gallery’ hangs at the front of his shop with upcycled car tires that have been redesigned into artistic pieces encircling the shop. From a young age, Jhoni has loved painting and making his own designs, and just three months ago he opened up his own shop as a second job. Jhoni’s intricate designs are a truly eye capturing experience. He focuses on traditional West Sumatran drawing style with Egyptian and Buddhist influence. From vibrantly colourful pieces to simple black and white designs, Jhoni has crafts for every person’s taste. His enthusiasm to meet new people and show his crafts to customers is a one of a kind experience. His designs have reached a global outreach despite not having a social media platform. Both tourists and locals visit his shop to buy his postcards, vases, paintings, and upcycled wood. His shop can be found in Simpang Jambak, Lubuk Alung, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Pandan is a traditional craft originating from West Sumatra. Pandan leaves are boiled, and dyed, resulting in a vibrant mat with unique patterns. Just like many practices in Minangkabau, this artistry is made by women and learned generationally through the female line, but disinterest in younger generations and low selling prices in the markets have made it especially challenging for women to keep practicing this craft. In Paninggahan, Nelly is one of 9 other women in the village that still make pandan, and shared that most of them have been forced to find other livelihoods. How can we keep pandan alive amidst modernisation, or find an innovative way to spark a refounded interest in this artistry?

In Padang Pariaman, Inel, a 48 year old woman, is the last person in the world to make ‘topi ekor kuda’ (horse tail hat). This traditional Minangkabau craft was practiced for years when horses were used as the main mode of transport with carriages. Women made hats out of horse hair for elders and leaders of their village, representing leadership and respect, however, as modern technology evolved, horses were replaced by cars, and this craft disappeared through time as well. Today, the only person in the world that knows how to make topi ekor kuda is Inel. She told us that when she was a child, more women in her village knew how to make these hats, but as the cost of horse hair increased, and sales plummeted, it did not become a viable way for them to make an income. She learned this craft from her mother, but now, no other women in her family want to learn how to make this craft. What once was a popular tradition within Minangkabau culture is now being held by one woman.

Batik is a traditional arts craft, originally from the island of Java, that uses hot wax to create intricate designs on cloth. In Lubuk Alung, Anggreini holds a small business in her home where she handmakes and creates all of her products. I was lucky enough to make my own Batik design with her and she showed me the entire process. Traditional Batik usually portrays the common heritage and way of life in that region, easily identified by its patterns and vibrant colours. As this product has become more popular with younger generations in Indonesia, abstract designs have now been added into this craft, including more modern designs. To make Batik, designs are made using hot wax that is poured onto cloth using a tool called canting. After the drawings are made with the hot wax, paint is brushed over the cloth and wax. When everything is set and dried, the wax is washed off and the final product is a Batik design with vivid colours and patterns. Anggreini makes shirts, pants, scarves, and paintings using the Batik technique and has grown her business immensely over the years. Her shop can be found at Kp.V Koto Balah Hilir Kec. Lubuk Alung, Kab. Padang Pariaman, Sumatra Barat, Indonesia, 25581.