A Language of the Hands - Embodied Knowledge and Transmitted Memory in Indonesian Buton Sarong explores Buton sarong as a form of embodied and transmitted knowledge. Drawing on TRC collections and fieldwork in Baubau, the exhibition traces how patterns, motifs, weaving practices, and memories are transmitted across generations through speech, observation, and the hands. As their a strong oral tradition culture, the sarong emerges as a living textile language shaped by everyday life, nature, and generations of makers.
Images by courtesy of Minsook Kang on her research trip in 2026
The mini-exhibition is curated by Minsook Kang, intern at the TRC. She is a visual artist and researcher working across textiles, moving image, installation, and publication. Her practice explores stories, memory, and embodied knowledge through forms of care, attention, and material engagement.
A Language of the Hands can be visited until 30 Oct 2026. It will most likely be extended beyond that date. The TRC is open every weekday from 10.00 to 15.00.
