Verdex
Verdex
13 April 2023, 14:44

Tampan - the heritage of the culture of the peoples of Sumatra

Tampan - the heritage of the culture of the peoples of Sumatra
The Indonesian province of Lampung is located on the island of Sumatra - in ancient times a cultural center arose here, in which many artistic traditions were born. Thanks to the textile trade in Lampung, tampans (tampan) appeared - square-shaped textiles used in various ceremonies. Tampanas were given for birthdays, weddings, and also at those moments when a person received a higher social status. These objects were considered the center of supernatural power that binds society together.
Images on tampans are woven, as a rule, from threads of two colors - red and blue. These are scenes from people's lives, rich flora and fauna, as well as numerous bizarre patterns. Tampans could be seen in the homes of the rich and ordinary people of Lampung, but luxury items like the example presented in this publication could be afforded by the upper class.
This 19th century tampan depicts a large South Asian ship from pre-colonial times. One gets the feeling that we have a real palace with musicians, guards and servants. On the left, in a small cabin, a figure of a lying person is visible - this is probably an influential person along with an escort. In the center is a group of musicians - a traditional Indonesian gamelan orchestra (gamelan). The main musical instruments of the gamelan are percussion; during the performance of the composition, strings and flutes are connected, and sometimes also vocals. In one of the cabins at the bottom of the ship is a helmsman with a long oar. The team is armed with daggers that peek out from each of their belts.
The space of the sea depths in the lower part of the tampan and the heavenly spaces in the upper part are filled with living beings. Probably, the author tried to show an idealized world of abundance, beauty and power.

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