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| Artefacts
from mystical lands Picked personally by the discerning duo who run the Hermitage Gallery, Yasmeen Akbarally and Safiya Hasain, the items were purchased after interaction with traditional artisans themselves and consolidators of artefacts in the mystical islands of Java, Lombok, Batubulan, Timor, Sulewesi and Irian Jaya. Although a part of modern Indonesia, each of these regions have independent cultures with unique traditions and vibrant artistic expressions. For example, Java is the heart of Islamic Indonesia, Irian Jaya and Timor are animistic in ritual and worship whilst Bali sings the songs of the Ramayana. "We were simply enthralled by the entire experience," Safiya says of their business cum holiday trip to the archipelago in the middle of the year. She stressed that they were not the usual furniture items that one would find in the capital city of Jakarta but the more traditional, antique looking pieces that reflected the island's ancient culture. Most prominent are the indigenous granite and sandstone items - pot holders and other figurines with intricate carvings of beautiful garden nymphs that can be used with a water feature such as a pond or fountains or simply as accent pieces to make a room more appealing. One can see exquisite workmanship in the ethnic Jadongs (tribal gift boxes) with inlay work of various sizes that were once used to make presentations or gifts. The wooden figurines of a king and a queen and large painted wooden masks, reflect folk tales of Indonesia, echoing history. Other items on display are the rattan screens, mats, carpets, intricate woven baskets and wooden puppets. "Most of the wooden items serve the dual purpose of being decorative as well as functional," explains Yasmeen of the Asmat figures that depict the wild man of Indonesia which have been converted into attractive CD racks. Displayed together with the new collection are Indian furniture, ethnic silver jewellery, a rare collection of postcards of Old Ceylon, photographs by Lionel Wendt and masterpieces of the 43 Group. |
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