Regarding the textile on which the drawings are mounted, my fascination with textiles began with the book "Fabricating Power in Balinese Textile" written by my good friend Urmila Mohan, an anthropologist and doctor from New York University. Urmila's work broadened my perspective on fabric and its historical significance in Bali, particularly in relation to the trading history (involving the Dutch and British who vied for control of Bali's port before the British ultimately chose Singapore). Textiles emerged as a valuable commodity in Bali, with secret codes embedded within the fabric used to transport information between kingdoms in the archipelago. Urmila also delved into the ritual function of fabric, highlighting the importance of colors and motifs as protective elements.

The fabrics selected by the artists are contemporary mass-produced textiles from Bali, manufactured between 1998 and 2000 for Balinese rituals such as prayers and marriages. These fabrics are inspired by older collections from that era. The combination of textile patterns reflects our traditional language of belief systems, while my paintings represent an accumulation of my cultural memory, particularly my encounters with the Balinese sacred symbol known as the "Rajah."

For additional references, please visit: https://www.bgc.bard.edu/exhibitions/exhibitions/82/fabricating-power-with-balinese-textiles"