Mancapat Exhibition: An Expression of Life Through the Art of Batik Tenun Gedog

Mancapat is a presentation of Javanese cosmological worldview of life as a series of continuous loops. It serves as a guide throughout their lives and it is reflected in their textiles, architecture and how communities are organised. In modern times, ‘circularity’ and ‘closing the loop’ are often associated with sustainability, an idea that questions human’s material consumption that impacts natural biodiversity and cultural heritage.

This exhibition attempts to ponder and to portray the continuity of life beyond death and preservation of resources and memory through a combination of ethnographic textile and material collections from Kerek, Tuban, East Java, Indonesia, alongside brand new contemporary art installations by Singaporean and Indonesian artists.    

Exhibits will be arranged following the natural progression of life – birth, coming of age, maturity, death and rebirth – symbolised by a series of textile-making tools, photographs, traditional woven textiles and four new contemporary art installations by artists Agatha Lee “Agy” (Singapore), Marina Gosali (Indonesia) and Noor Iskandar (Singapore). Other than responding to the theme, the artists incorporate materials from Kerek village. 

Drop by the exhibition to see how traditional textiles inspire new creations and check out our social media for virtual or in-person programs throughout the exhibition!