Ikat Textiles of the Indonesian Archipelago: from the Peter ten Hoopen Collection

Peter ten Hoopen began collecting ikat textiles from the Indonesian archipelago in the late 1970s, first attracted by their shimmering, strangely unsteady patterns suggestive of altered states, a world of dreams and visions. This awakening of interest fortuitously coincided with the 'golden age' of ikat research, which generated several of the field's inspiring classics-and with opportunities to travel to ikat-producing islands. His interest deepened as he discovered that the textiles were deeply meaningful both socially and spiritually, speaking of origin and belonging, and of connections with gods, ancestors and the spirit world. Becoming aware of the astounding diversity of regional styles, and of the precipitous decline of ikat as a vital aspect of the islands' cultures, in 1980 he began work on a collection that eventually would encompass the entire archipelago: fifty different ikat weaving regions, each with their own particular style and cultural role. Ten Hoopen's credo became 'collect the culture, not the piece'. When faced with collapsing traditions, the most crucial part of conservation is not the preservation of emblematic examples, however imperative, but rather the preservation of knowledge, which is so much more perishable than objects. He then began documenting his textiles with an intense level of detail, and sharing this crucial information with the world through his Pusaka Collection website, which quickly became the premier on-line reference tool for the subject. The realisation that no comparable reference work existed in print triggered ten Hoopen's ambition to create such a volume, which led to a partnership with the University Museum and Art Gallery, University of Hong Kong, on the 2017 exhibition Fibres of Life and to the initial stages of the present work-Ikat Textiles of the Indonesian Archipelago. It is hoped that this book enriched by the contributions of a dozen regional experts, several fellow collectors, curators and photographers, and detailing ikat regions and aspects never before covered will stimulate the collecting of ikat from across the Indonesian archipelago, both private and institutional, and inspire further research into this vanishing art.

Hardcover with dust jacket

Book condition: Near fine. Covers has a small bump to top rear corner. Internally very clean

Dust Jacket condition: Near Fine. Light general wear to jacket

Author: Peter ten Hoopen

Dimensions: 23.5 x 31 cm

Print length: 600 Pages

Language: English

Publication date: 2018

Publisher: Hong Kong University Press

ISBN:‎ 9789881902474