Simon Marks Textiles | CREATING WORK IN INDONESIA

 

I first started coming to Bali in 2002 and was simply bowled over by the level of beauty and creativity with which people here infuse all aspects of their lives. There are so many diverse traditions of craft rooted in excellence. From the palm objects used in ceremonies, to basket-making, wood & stone carving, to painting and textiles, these myriad of arts and crafts often transcend function and become works of art in themselves.

Bali for me was the starting point of a long and continuing passion for working with natural dyes in my textiles. It has led me to India where I now produce hand-block prints with artisans that have been involved in this highly skilled craft for the last 10 generations. The process I work with uses only natural preparations for the cloth, seed and nut kernels to make pastes, mineral salts & gums to bind the dyes, and a variety of natural dyes made from leaves, roots, barks & peel to produce a variety of different colours.
Natural dyes and the skilled artisans & craft needed to work with them are currently undergoing a steadily growing revival here, where much thought goes into them being used in a sustainable & environmentally friendly way. This is the main reason that keeps pulling me back here. Whether it is to design & make naturally dyed cotton Ikats with weavers from Sideman, & Sumba, to have silk scarves handwoven from Javanese cocoons in Denpassar then dyed with natural dyes in Medahan & handbound to produce Shibori scarves. Or to continue experimenting with the dyestuffs & techniques that I have gathered from the many different places that I have visited to produce the most juicy red, vibrant purple, delectable blue or gorgeous green in intersting combinations on exciting handwoven fabrics.

Over time as I have come to spend more and more time here, my impressions have deepened into a greater understanding & appreciation of this island & its culture.
Being a textile designer, working with natural dyes. I am inspired by the range and quality of textiles on Bali, and the artisans that so skillfully produce them.