Indonesia, Bali, Negara
Eave hanging (ider-ider) depicting I Gede Buyar, from the Journey of Dukuh Siladri
Object Details
Culture
Indonesia, Bali, Negara
Medium
Cotton embroidery on cotton cloth
Dimensions
10 1/4 x 109 13/16 inches (26 x 279 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired through the George and Mary Rockwell Fund
Object
Number
2007.031.080
There once lived two brothers, Siladri and Made Kerti. They were both raised in the city of Mameling(…)
There once lived two brothers, Siladri and Made Kerti. They were both raised in the city of Mameling by their widowed mother, Ni Sabuk, who secretly adopted Siladri as a baby. Made Kerti was her natural-born son, but she treated them both equally and with love. The brothers married: Siladri chose Kadek, with whom he had a son Mudita; and Kerti found his match in Rajin, who gave birth to a daughter, Kusumasari. Both families were happy at first, but Siladri grew restless, discontented with life in Mameling.One day Siladri decided that he wanted to go into the forest and pursue the life of an ascetic. Inspired by all the palm leaf manuscripts in his father’s library, he resolved to seek out the sage Mpu Dibiaja, who lived near Gunung Kawi. Balinese tradition requires that a male son should stay in the family home, so the bittersweet decision is made that Mudita should stay in Mameling with his aunt and uncle, Kerti and Rajin, and Kusumasari will join Siladri and Kadek on their journey. Siladri makes a special ring for his son and gives it to Made Kerti for safe keeping. Siladri and Kadek set out on their journey, takingturns carrying the infant, Kusumasari.This long embroidered ider-ider focuses on the evil comings and goings of I Gede Buyar, the conniving son of a wealthy landowner, I Gede Kedampal, of the village of Karangbuncing. Overcome by lust, Buyar decides to kidnap Kusumasari and marry her himself. Since this cloth would be hung under a shrine and viewed in the round, it is the image of Buyar riding on his elegant horse to and from Gunung Kawi that holds pride of place in the narrative.