Six people wearing Tidore woven cloths with a very distinctive pattern walked like models from the entrance of the gallery on the 1st floor of the Jogja National Museum (JNM). Ethnic and modern images are mixed into a unique and slick style at the same time.
The Funkie Raha fashion show was part of the event titled Boki Emiria Show International Performance which was held together with Broken Pitch and Juanga Culture starting at 10.00 a.m.
The six talents of this fashion show—three women and three men—were the lecture-performance audience of the Tidore weaving performance, which was previously held on the west side of the JNM main stage with Bams Conoras, whose stage name is President Tidore as the speaker.
Ladija Triana, the program manager for Biennale Jogja XVI Equator #6 2021, said that this fashion show introduced Nusantara fabrics to exhibition visitors.
“We are trying to introduce traditional Nusantara fabrics and show the community that the (Nusantara) fabric can be worn not only for certain (formal) events but also on casual occasions. For example, when playing with friends and watching exhibitions,“ said Ladija.
The introduction of Nusantara cloth with this fashion show is not without reason. Ladija explained, “Broken Pitch is a collective that focuses on performing arts. From there, by making a fashion show for Nusantara fabrics, they can respond to issues that are of concern to Juanga Culture, namely Batik Day.”
Batik Day, according to the Moloku Kie Raha (North Maluku) cultural house, cannot represent the whole of Indonesia. Many wastra and cloth crafts in other parts of Indonesia were then marginalized. They suggested that Batik Day be changed to Indonesian Traditional Fabric Day.
The question is, this fashion show’s nature is video production for social media use. Meaning, it’s held not to purposefully invite an audience into a gallery. Why is it so?
“Actually, this (fashion show) is just fluid. We want to position fashion show talent as ordinary visitors, but they’d be wearing traditional Nusantara fabrics everywhere,” Ladija concluded.
