exhibition opening lecture Living Cloth: Textiles and Society in Indonesia - Barbara Watson Andaya

Woven into Indonesia’s cultural fabric, textiles have historically served not only as expressions of artistry and tradition but also as drivers of trade and economic activity. In this lecture, scholar Barbara Watson Andaya explores how cloth and material objects reflect shifts in aesthetic preferences, ritual practices, and the assimilation of outside influences.

Taking as departure points several pieces in the Gallery’s exhibition Nusantara: Six Centuries of Indonesian Textiles, the lecture traverses the Indonesian archipelago, tracing historical developments and highlighting the extraordinary diversity and cultural dynamics embedded in textiles.

Generously sponsored by the Martin A. Ryerson Lectureship Fund. Offered in conjunction with the exhibition Nusantara.