Lana

ETERNAL

In my work in 2018, I explored the dynamics of gender roles in domestic labor, seeking solutions to the ongoing debate surrounding gender equality and how the concept of cooperation, or “gotong-royong,” should be embraced by both genders. I discovered a concept of collaboration between men and women in traditional Sundanese society while cultivating rice in the fields, a practice known as “ngahuma.” There are a series of customary rituals associated with rice cultivation in traditional Sundanese communities, such as prayers to start the farming season, prohibitions and taboos, celebrations at the early growth of the rice, and the Seren Taun ceremony, which marks the rice harvest. These customs are performed as acts of devotion to Nyai Sri Pohaci Sanghyang Asri and are an integral part of the Sundanese religious activities. In other words, the domestic work carried out by the Sundanese people is a form of their worship.

The technique used in this work is the double crochet. Crocheting is typically associated with domestic activities and represents the traditional Sundanese rice farming rituals. In the crocheting process, the repeated pattern of material binding forms lines. Crocheting is done row by row to create a fabric. The repetition in the crocheting process symbolizes the idea of religious activities, which I interpret as a connection between humans and the spiritual realm, performed through a series of periodic rituals that are passed down from generation to generation.

As for the choice of material, it reflects local values, particularly within Sundanese culture. Agel rope was selected, which is industrially spun but still maintains the original properties of straw in terms of color, texture, and aroma. The treatment of this material, which has been touched by new technology, represents my identity and behavioral patterns influenced by the urban environment, even though my family’s historical background remains rooted in Sundanese culture.