Ubud Artisan Market, under the auspices of the Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation, held a two-day textile exhibition from various regions in Bali. The exhibition will be held on Saturday 12 February and Sunday 13 February 2022, at Indus Restaurant, Sanggingan, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali. Weavers from six regions will present various forms of textiles, from traditional to contemporary, with a variety of motifs, colors and styles. Contributing parties included Weaving Pesalakan from Pejeng, Cap Menuh and Kain Menggahagung from Gianyar, Putri Mas from Negara, Alam Mesari from Nusa Penida, Umah Grinsing from Tenganan, Pagi Motley and Alamanda Sudaji from Singaraja.

Each is committed to preserving the heritage of Balinese textiles and many of these textiles use natural dyes extracted directly from real leaves and tree bark to make these fabrics.

The following program runs from 12.00 WITA to 21.00 WITA, Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to the exhibition, there are also weaving demonstrations, as well as discussion sessions with guest speakers and films.

The discussion will focus on the sustainability of weaving during the pandemic, innovations in the industry, the importance of natural dyes and survival in the future.

Videos from different villages highlighting different weaving techniques and styles will also be shown.

The items displayed can be purchased immediately, and Indus will open in the lower floor for those who want to enjoy a meal with a view of the Tjampuhan mountains.

“I am delighted to be able to present this extraordinary range of Balinese textiles,” said Janet DeNeefe, founder of Ubud Artisan Market.

According to him, this unique craft is an important part of the uniqueness of Bali that must be preserved.

"This unique craft heritage is an important part of Balinese identity and must be preserved at all costs," he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Pejeng Kangen Banjar, Made Astawa, conveyed that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was being felt.

Many people including women in the village lost their jobs.

"When Covid hit, many women in our village were left without work," said Made Astawa.

“With the help of the local government and some expatriates, we decided to revive our old weaving industry. We are proud to showcase our textiles at Indus and share our latest designs," he said.

The exhibition is held free of charge, there is no entry fee.

This exhibition is a starting project for a larger event at a later stage.

The following exhibition is one of the initiatives of the Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation, a non-profit non-governmental organization that is committed to enriching the lives and livelihoods of the Indonesian people through the development of various cultural arts programs that build community communities.