Java

Java is an Indonesian island known for courtly dress, dance, batik and the kris, or keris. Its arts combine local traditions with a long history of Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic influences.

The kris is more than a weapon. A straight or waved blade, patterned metal, carved hilt and fitted sheath turn it into an object of skill and status. It can be worn with ceremonial dress and passed down as an heirloom.

Gamelan music accompanies dance and theatre. Wayang performances use carved wooden figures or cut-leather shadow puppets to tell stories, including episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Masks give performers another way to transform a character's face.

Batik adds patterns to the dressed body. Makers apply wax before dyeing cloth, repeating the process to build colour and design. Motifs can connect a garment with a place, occasion or social identity. The finished cloth carries the work of skilled hands into everyday and ceremonial life.