[ACM CONVERSATIONS] Living Cloth: Bark, Looms, and Gender in Indonesian Textile History

ACM Conversations

Living Cloth: Bark, Looms, and Gender in Indonesian Textile History

Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 7–8pm
Ngee Ann Auditorium
Asian Civilisations Museum

THIS TALK IS FREE.

Registration (with $10 refundable deposit) required.

Textiles have long had important artistic, ritual, and economic roles across the Indonesian archipelago. This talk traces the history of two foundational textile technologies – barkcloth and loom weaving – and the changing practices and meanings associated with them.

Although women were often the principal bearers of technical expertise and ritual knowledge, textile production was never an exclusively female domain. Men and women contributed in different ways to making, commissioning, and wearing cloth. Drawing on examples in ACM’s galleries, Barbara Watson Andaya explores these gendered relationships and the remarkable diversity of Indonesian textiles, from protective garments and ceremonial wrappings to cloths that record genealogies.

About the speaker

Barbara Watson Andaya is Emerita Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and a specialist in the history of Southeast Asia, particularly the Malay–Indonesian archipelago. In 2026, she received the Association for Asian Studies Award for Distinguished Contributions to Asian Studies. Her publications include The Flaming Womb: Repositioning Women in Early Modern Southeast Asia and, with Leonard Andaya, A History of Early Modern Southeast Asia. She is currently preparing a regional study of gender and sexuality in Southeast Asia.

About the moderator

Leonard Y. Andaya is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and a specialist in the history of Indonesia and Malaysia. His publications include Leaves of the Same Tree: Trade and Ethnicity in the Straits of Melaka and, with Barbara Watson Andaya, A History of Early Modern Southeast Asia and A History of Malaysia. He is an editor of The New Cambridge History of Southeast Asia.

Light refreshments will be served from 6pm at the basement foyer.

Image: Jacket. Borneo, Kutai, 19th century. Bark - cloth (fuya), printed European cotton, trade beads. Asian Civilisations Museum, G-0101

FAQ
Before registering, please read the following:

1. Why is there a refundable deposit of $10?
The deposit ensures that all registered participants attend. The deposit refund will be processed in Peatix within 24-hours after the event. Depending on your bank, card company and payment method, it can take between 5 ~ 30 business days before the refund is reflected on your card statement. Please write to us on Peatix or email us at [email protected] 24 hours before the event start time if you need to cancel your ticket. Late cancellations and no-shows will be subject to the $10 fee.

2. Do I need to register at the event?

Yes, you will need to sign in at the registration desk to receive the refund.

3. Where is the meeting point and what time should I be there?
The meeting point is the Ngee Ann Auditorium on the basement level of the Asian Civilisations Museum. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the talk for registration. The talk begins at 7pm. Light refreshments will be served from 6pm at the basement foyer.

4. Further enquiries
We’d be happy to answer them for you! Drop us a note via Peatix or email us at [email protected].