The Arts of Indonesia

Traditionally painting in Indonesia was only done on masks, puppets and other artefacts, until illustrated manuscripts were produced in Java and Bali from around the end of the 18th century.

High ranking people are usually shown in profile in the stylized manner, whereas the common people are treated with much less formality.

The most famous music is that of the gamelan orchestra, one of the first westerners to comment on it was Sir Francis Drake, in 1580.

The majority of gamelan instruments are made of metal, usually bronze.

These divide into two groups: met allophones, and gongs with central knobs or bosses.

In addition there are hand drums, end-blown bamboo flutes and a two-stringed rebab, or fiddle, of Arabic origin.

Indonesian gold and silver work has been around for centuries, and is used all over the country for household, ceremonial articles, jewellery and ornaments.

Marriages require the bride and, to a lesser extent, the groom to be decked with an assortment of collars, headdresses, rings, earrings, anklets, belts, necklaces and other finery emphasizing the bride’s role as queen for the day.

The art of basketry has long been practised throughout Indonesia and there is a vast supply of fibres available. Rattan is used for the framework for furniture and when split can produce a material as soft as coarse cotton.

Leaves of the Pandanus tree is used for mats. Palm leaf is used in Bali for little baskets for offerings and a variety of decorations for temple ceremonies.

The best of Penan work, plaited from split rattan, is reputed to be both water and insect proof and used for many purposes, from war shields to baskets and screens to store human heads before they were hung in the longhouse.

Decorative motifs are obtained by the insertion of dyed or stained strips of different colours.

These include rhomb, key and spiral motifs with stylized human or spirit figures, animals and birds often used in horizontal bands.

Wood and stone carving was used on public buildings, temples and palaces as an adjunct to architecture, while free-standing statues served as protective figures or representations of divinities.

Batak, Minangkabau and Toraja houses are carved with geometrical and representational figures coloured with natural dyes, while their furniture is traditionally simple stools and worktables, often totally undecorated.

The great Batak chests are carved with the singa or lion head and their magic staffs bear an entwined relief of figures and other motifs.

Carved deer horn handles of the Dayak mandau and ceremonial parang are carved with human, animal and plant motifs and decorated with hair and beadwork.

The Asmat people of southern Irian Jaya are master carvers producing large memorial poles carved with figures, animals and birds. Their tradition of dramatic carving has always been linked to the continuous tribal warfare and spirit world.

Pottery and ceramics have never been widespread crafts in Indonesia because of the abundance of fibre substitutes and materials such as coconut shell and bamboo for use as containers.

Some pottery is made throughout the islands, often without the use of the potter’s wheel, but it is generally fairly basic.

Batik textiles are among the most beautiful produced in Indonesia and are probably the best known. The process, which uses wax as a dye-resist. Once cut to length, hemmed, washed and boiled to remove the size, it is then oiled.

Arts - Crafts - Gifts - Posters

• Vietnam Artwork a leading online Vietnamese Art gallery, the highest quality handmade Vietnamese art, such as: Vietnamese embroidery paintings , Vietnamese silk paintings, Asian ceramic paintings, Vietnamese lacquer paintings, mother of pearl paintings, Oriental wood vases, Vietnamese water puppets, stone boxes, and more.
• Japan Art and Gifts provides products that exhibit the flair of Japanese design, some of the products are hand made by talented artisans who spend weeks to produce just one piece.
• Thailand Handicrafts a wonderful collection of hand made craft, jewellery and gifts representing the best in Thai art and culture.
• Posters and Prints of Asian art and culture can be viewed here, just type in your preference in the search box on this page,