{"product_id":"sarong-relawati-keong-copy","title":"SARONG RELAWATI LUNG LUNGAN","description":"\u003ch3\u003eIbu Maisaroh\u003cbr\u003eBorn 1985, Batang, Indonesia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSARONG RELAWATI LUNG-LUNGAN (2025)\u003cbr\u003e100% cotton, synthetic dyes\u003cbr\u003eHand-drawn wax resist on machine-woven cotton\u003cbr\u003e216 × 114 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAn Escher-like dance of vines, this sarong invites contemplation of the infinite and the interlinked nature of our world.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis sarong is a mesmerising work and a testament to Ibu Maisaroh’s technical mastery and gift for geometric detailing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat sets this piece apart is the fill. The badan (body of the cloth) is worked in\u003cem\u003e lung-lungan,\u003c\/em\u003e a motif of intertwining vines and tendrils whose name comes from \u003cem\u003elung\u003c\/em\u003e, the Javanese word for vine tendril. But Ibu Maisaroh’s interpretation is anything but literal. The vines are rendered with a geometric precision and interlocking rigour that elevates the motif into something approaching the abstract — less a garden, more a meditation on form itself. There is an Escher-like quality to the patterning: the eye follows one line and finds it has become another. This geometric sophistication is deeply rooted in the broader tradition of Islamic art, in which the infinite repetition and interlocking of pattern becomes a visual contemplation of the divine. The \u003cem\u003elung-lungan\u003c\/em\u003e motif carries its own symbolism: \u003cem\u003elung-lungan\u003c\/em\u003e literally means intertwining, and speaks to the interdependence of all living things, the hope for a flourishing social life, and the resilience and adaptability that comes from remaining connected. It is also said to confer protection on its wearer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003cem\u003ekepala \u003c\/em\u003e(feature panel) — displayed at the back when worn by men, and at the front by women — is anchored by the floral and distinctly feminine \u003cem\u003eRelawati\u003c\/em\u003e design. \u003cem\u003eRelawati\u003c\/em\u003e is a woman's name rooted in the Javanese word \u003cem\u003erela\u003c\/em\u003e (willing, open-hearted, generous of spirit) and carries the meaning of a woman who gives of herself with grace and sincerity. It is a prayer that the one who wears this cloth will embody deep compassion and joyful generosity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSubtle hints of creatures are woven through the plant forms… a curved leaf, or the arc of a plume? A petal, or the sweep of a wing? The viewer must use her imagination. This practice of samaran (abstraction or camouflage) stems from the Sufi Islamic teaching at the heart of Rifa’iyah batik: that it is unwise to depict a whole living creature unless one is also able to grant it a soul.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe outer border is finished with a beautifully executed wave-like design —suggestive of \u003cem\u003eudang samaran\u003c\/em\u003e, the abstracted shrimp rendered in the samaran style as curving, undulating forms. In Javanese philosophical tradition, the shrimp carries layered meaning: its characteristic backward movement is understood as a form of wisdom — the willingness to be humble, step back, to reflect, and to regroup before moving forward with greater clarity. The shrimp’s capacity to thrive across diverse aquatic environments speaks to adaptability and resilience. And the Javanese proverb \u003cem\u003eana udang ing sakwaliké watu\u003c\/em\u003e  (there is a shrimp behind the stone’ — serves as a reminder to look beyond surfaces, to remain thoughtful and discerning in the face of hidden intentions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terracotta, black and blues, the colour scheme is subdued and sophisticated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIbu Maisaroh\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIbu Maisaroh learned batik tulis from her mother, Ibu Juriyah — herself a celebrated Rifa’iyah artist — and mastered the artform by the age of fifteen. Batik is her consuming passion: she dedicates the greater part of her life to her practice. Her works consistently push beyond the expected, offering something at the next level of intricacy, inventiveness and spiritual depth. For this reason, they are highly sought after.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ibu Maisaroh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53395103711531,"sku":"BPB031","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0925\/6753\/5915\/files\/Maisaroh_Sarong_Lung_Lungan.png?v=1778804810","url":"https:\/\/sahulandsunda.com\/products\/sarong-relawati-keong-copy","provider":"Sahul \u0026 Sunda","version":"1.0","type":"link"}