In the exhibition “Mbaka Satitik: Ritualization of Form,” Artist In-Residence; A. Sebastianus Hartanto combines photography and batik, the Javanese wax-resist dye technique, to honor and blend two generational methods of memory-keeping. Describing these works as “studies,” the artist explores the shape of “being,” its layers, and its constitution. Pixelated image-particles, representing Hartanto’s memories and belongings, are imprinted on cloth, waxed over, and then dyed. During his artist residency at John Hardy, Hartanto unveils this ritualization of the batik process as a sacred act of memorializing his origins. He calls this practice “Mbaka Satitik,” meaning “until/from one point to another,” where each dot (titik) of batik symbolizes a moment in time, a particle of his being.
Mbaka Satitik includes four rites of passage, where the transformation of the cloth symbolizes the body’s metamorphosis: Nyuci (purification), Nyanting (meditation/contemplation), Nyelup (absorption), and Nglorod (sublimation). For Hartanto, re-sacralizing batik is a way to reclaim the lost tradition of ritualizing craft and mythicizing the art of making. His primal experiences with the craft evoke new purposes, allowing the practice of Mbatik to be a transcendental portal to his past, present, and future—a way to understand the cosmological matrix of his belonging.
Guests can enjoy the art and installations at the John Hardy Gallery, Seminyak, from 8 June to 31 August 2024, with free entry. The gallery will also host hands-on workshops, artist talks, and social events, bringing the community together to celebrate art and Indonesian culture.
The John Hardy Boutique and Gallery at Seminyak is located at Jl. Raya Petitenget, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Badung, Bali 80361. For inquiries, call +62 (0) 361-9344-244 or +62 (0) 811-3811-8003. Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.