FOR By Wayan Melati Blanca, wastra is not just a cloth. But it is also a source of inspiration for Melati Danes Interior's design works.
There is a strong sense of culture in Amandari, Ubud, Bali on 29 Mei-29 Juni 2021. A full month, Ni Wayan Melati Blancar held an exhibition entitled Glorifying Wastra: Exhibition of Folk Art, Photography, Fashion, High Quality Craft & Healthy cultures.
The exhibition is the fruit of the wanderlust and culture of the Director of Melati Danes Interior. As a Balinese woman who is obedient to customs, Melati always wears traditional Balinese wastra when performing religious rituals and ceremonies. “Wastra came to us himself. So we are not looking," he said.
Like most Balinese, Jasmine gets tetamian or traditional cloth inheritance from the ancestors. And he has worn it from an early age. "Since childhood, when participating in important ceremonies such as cutting teeth, I wear a wastra from grandma,"He explained.
Even when pursuing a hobby of dancing, the wife of the architect Popo Danes wears wastra. When married to Popo, it turns out that the husband also likes to collect wastra. The husband's batik collection of wastra was curated by Marinta Serina, who was then asked to become the Curator of the Exalting Wastra Exhibition..
“I learned a lot from Popo's literature that has been curated by Marinta,He said. Finally, he arranged and proceeded for his Balinese wastra-wastra which numbered 200. His collection of literature is of various ages. Even, there is a tetamian whose age has reached hundreds of years.
“These literatures are highly sought after abroad, especially in museums.” That is why, Melati and Popo visited museums in various cities and countries to see the rich culture in the form of wastra.
As an interior designer, wastra is also a source of inspiration. There are emotions at play when designing by adding wastra to it. When applying wastra to the interior, Jasmine always pours out her whole heart and soul.
It's no wonder that the theme of this exhibition also carries a concept that presents the heart and soul. Armed with this concept, Marinta creates a warm atmosphere to every exhibition space at Amandari.
From 200 Jasmine wastra collection, Marinta reduced it to 100, and last 60 sheet. Every piece of wastra on display has a bond with Melati. He also invited Melati to choose the fabrics that became her social status identity, spiritual means, and a source of interior inspiration.
60 The Balinese literature is then arranged sheet by sheet so that it appears balanced. The antique statues in the room were not moved to complement the wastra displayed by the Melati Danes Interior team. A blend of traditional fabrics, antique sculptures and proper lighting make the atmosphere in the exhibition hall warm and pleasant. A warm atmosphere is important because this literary exhibition represents the heart and soul of the collector, By Wayan Melati Blanca.
