Living Cloth: Textiles and Society in Indonesia at Yale University Art Gallery

The Yale University Art Gallery will present Living Cloth: Textiles and Society in Indonesia on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Barbara Watson Andaya, Emeritus Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i, will lead this lecture exploring how Indonesian textiles reflect artistry, trade, ritual, and cultural exchange. Drawing on centuries of history, Andaya will discuss the ways in which cloth and material objects embody shifts in aesthetic preferences, ritual practices, and the influence of outside cultures.

Particular attention will be given to the role of women in cloth production—from transforming bark into textiles, to weaving intricate designs, and creating the vibrant batik patterns that became world-renowned. Though often overlooked in history, their contributions shaped both local culture and international trade.

The lecture, offered in conjunction with the exhibition Nusantara: Six Centuries of Indonesian Textiles, will highlight objects such as Sumatra’s cosmological ship cloths, Java’s batik waist wrappers, and headhunter headdresses, revealing how textiles communicate identity, spirituality, and community across the Indonesian archipelago.

Generously sponsored by the Martin A. Ryerson Lectureship Fund, this program is free and open to the public.

The Yale University Art Gallery is located at 1111 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut. For details, visit artgallery.yale.edu or call (203) 432-0600.