Kawih Pangeuyeukan

Cotton thread hand-embroidery on cotton
92cm x 65cm
SGD 488

Kawih Pangeuyeukan (Weaving Song) is an old Sundanese poem describing the weaving culture, both physically and spiritually. It opens with a scene where a husband comforts her troubled wife, tells her to take a break from weaving to clear her body and mind. In this long poem, the husband explains the concept of weaving, its steps, tools, involved body parts and the spiritual meaning.

In the spiritual context, weaving reflects one’s life, encased in a system where order and chaos happen simultaneously. A weaver knows how long the fabric is intended to be, yet she cannot determine the exact duration take to complete it. Such is life; the length of our lives is already predetermined before we were born, yet we do not know how long it will be.

The loom is in a state of rest when the weaver takes a pause to recharge her energy and mind before continuing with a rejuvenated enthusiasm and consistency. Such is life; we have to be mindful of every weft yarn being fed across the warp to produce tight, good quality fabric. It is not a sin to take a rest to regain your focus. I just hope it is a momentary rest, not a total abandonment.