Indonesia’s traditions, portrayed in many of the country’s art forms, has inspired Romanian-born artist Bori Benko, who has been residing in Bali since 2005. However, her work can hardly be labeled ethnic or tribal, thanks to her unique way of combining her fascination with Indonesia with Western artistic influences.

Her current exhibition, which is being held until Feb. 28 at Alila Villas Soori, Bali, reflects this mixture.

The exhibition demonstrates Benko’s interest in textiles, patterns and natural colors. The fabrics are the result of her research and experimentation during the last two years she has spent in Bali and Java. Every piece has been hand-woven using traditional looms.

The threads used for the shawl were dyed with extracts of plants indigenous to Indonesia. Blue colors come from the fermented paste of leaves of the indigo shrub (indigofera tinctoria); red colors processed from the barks of the mahogany (swietenia mahagoni) and tingi tree (ceriops tagal) and greys and blacks come from altering the yellow dyes with natural minerals.

A consistent theme of straight lines is also evident in the artwork, hence the name “Lineage to hang and to wear”.

Aside from the shawls, the exhibition showcases her paintings as well.

Paintings included in the Wovenline series drew inspiration from her experience with the shawls, thus the usage of the similar theme of straight lines. These paintings represent inherited mind patterns and their disruptions, symbolized by lines intertwining with objects such as a bird or even Venus de Milo.

The dye stain paintings combine precision drawing with randomly formed stains, while the line scape paintings portray landscapes formed by interrupted horizontal lines.

The exhibition offers a fresh alternative to the usual kind of arts that is commonplace in Bali. Benko’s effort to create her artwork out of natural ingredients is quite inspiring.

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