08

Ikat
Cotton yarn dyed with cloves

This work explores the collaborative and layered process of ikat weaving. The cotton yarns are dyed with cloves, producing grades of grey through multiple dye dips. The colour is then fixed with iron before being washed in soda ash, transforming the grey tones into browns. These yarns are handwoven on a traditional loom together with naturally dyed black cotton, forming a grid reminiscent of woven rice sacks, a structure that represents memory and labour.

In ikat, authorship is often attributed to a single designer, yet each piece is born from collective skill. This work questions this and seeks to decolonise the idea of creative ownership by revealing the process and honoring everyone involved. Through transparency and collaboration, each phase of making becomes visible, and every craftsperson becomes part of the narrative.