Kipar pays homage to batik by adorning it
Kipar pays homage to batik by adorning it
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
If you draw a parallel between the work of German-born textile
artist Annemarie Kipar and the music scene, hers is like a record
filled entirely with remakes of old songs.
She acknowledges that sometimes it seems that all she has done
is take antique fabric and outline the motifs in beads, sequins
and stones.
In some cases, that is exactly what she is doing, as seen in
some of her pieces of vintage European tapestries where she has
merely outlined or accented.
In these cases, she is careful enough not to put her signature
on them.
"The fabric is already beautiful; I've contributed only a
little, so I don't see why I should put my signature on it,"
Kipar said while displaying a collection of wall hangings,
kimonos and bedspreads at Koi Restoran & Galeri in South Jakarta.
But the rest of the collection is about cutting and piecing
together parts of antique or new batik into wall hangings,
embellishing them with sewn-on beads, sequins and stones, and
finally creating a whole new piece of art.
Like remaking classic hits, it takes skill not to ruin the
original. In Kipar's case, she is quite successful in enhancing
the beauty of batik, giving it new dimensions and color.
Born in Dresden and spending a great deal of time in San
Francisco, Kipar initially went to Bali to write a book some 12
years ago.
The book has still not yet been published; instead, she fell
in love with the island, and the batik, and decided to
incorporate her love of fine jewelry into a series of wall
hangings and bedcovers.
Kipar has been living in Ubud, Bali, ever since.
"I need the Balinese environment. My artistic temperament is
touched by the place. I'm head over heels with batik," said
Kipar, most of whose pieces are one-offs.
She uses antique batik she purchases in Bali as well as
Pekalongan, Madura and Cirebon. She then constructs the frame and
enhances it with her large assortment of beads, crystal and semi-
precious stones from different countries.
She also works with fine ikat "because only fine ikat is good
enough to be embroidered".
One of the highlights of her work exhibited at Koi is a wall
hanging made from five different pieces of ikat. Another is a
piece of batik with a bird motif, with a series of sewn-on
baubles, creating a three-dimensional effect.
Once in a while, she restores the decaying silk of vintage
Chinese and European tapestries, and recently developed an
interest in chenille and chintz fabrics from Europe.
Also in her collection are kimonos and jackets; some are from
antique batik and others pashmina, which she also embroiders with
beaded motifs.
Kipar says she has been berated before for "destroying" batik.
"I'm not destroying it, I'm enhancing it. Batik is an art
form, which should be perceived so."
She said she was paying homage to batik and was not interested
in doing her own batik.
"The modern batik is still very interesting. What (Bali-based
designer) Milo and Iwan Tirta have done is exciting. But that's
not my interest. I'm busy already with what I do, there are still
many things to be done," said Kipar, who will be in Jakarta until
next Monday.
Vintage batik is becoming rarer and rarer, Kipar said, given
the fact that in Bali, when people are cremated, the fabric is
also burned as well.
Kipar has exhibited in Dresden as well as San Francisco and
New York but, she says, she wants to exhibit more in Indonesia.
"It's their thing; it should be appreciated more by
Indonesians."
A collection of Annemarie Kipar's works will be exhibited until
Jan. 7 at Koi Restaurant & Gallery, Jl. Mahakam I/2, Kebayoran
Baru, South Jakarta. Tel. 7222864