Author: Torang Sitorus, Nestor Rico Tambunan, Christ Sempati Barasha, 2022. 376pg. (English)
Publisher: BAB Publishing, Jakarta
This remarkable book is a collaborative effort that expertly details the Batak people and their iconic shoulder cloth known as ulos. It delves into the rich, centuries-old art and tradition of ulos, emphasizing its vital role in the lifecycle. The book culminates with a stunning collection, featuring previously unseen pieces, highlighting the diverse styles of ulos from different regions: Ulos of Toba, the Hiou of Simalungun, the Oles of Pakpak, the Abit and Sadum of Angkola and Mandailing.
Author: Achim Sibeth, 1991. 240pgs. (English) Hardcover
Publisher: Thames and Hudson, New York, USA
The volume authored by Achim Sibeth constitutes a highly regarded and comprehensive anthropological survey of the Batak peoples of North Sumatra. It endures as an indispensable visual and historical text for scholars engaged in the study of this ancient and culturally rich Indonesian society. Sibeth’s work systematically explores the diverse Batak subgroups—including the Toba, Karo, Simalungun, Mandailing, and Pakpak—while encompassing the full spectrum of Batak heritage with particular emphasis on cultural traditions. The text provides detailed examinations of adat (customary law), the social organization of kinship through marga (lineage), and the dynamics of village life. Sibeth further interrogates the persistence of animist cosmologies, shamanic practices, and mythological frameworks, alongside the intricate artistry of Batak architecture and sculpture. His analysis is enriched by references to early travel writings and by tracing the profound transformations wrought by colonial incursions and missionary activity. One of the book’s most significant assets lies in its extraordinary visual corpus: more than 320 illustrations and field photographs. These images furnish rare and vivid insights into historical Batak lifeways, ritual artifacts, and the textile traditions embodied in ulos weaving. The visual documentation not only complements the ethnographic narrative but also serves as a vital archive of material culture. While the work’s breadth and visual richness are undeniable, readers seeking a deeply localized and methodologically rigorous academic monograph may find the organizational structure somewhat fragmented. Nevertheless, Sibeth’s contribution remains a seminal reference, bridging ethnographic scholarship with visual historiography in the study of Batak cultural identity.
Author: Fiona Kerlogue, 2004. 191pgs. (English), Softcover
Publisher: Archipelago Press, Singapore
This volume offers a comprehensive exploration of batik, tracing its historical origins, examining diverse regional traditions, and analyzing the symbolic motifs and meanings embedded within its designs. It further investigates the impact of modern influences on batik production and aesthetics, considers its role as costume in cultural and ceremonial contexts, and evaluates its evolving position within the broader sphere of contemporary art.
Author: Philippa Scott, 1995. 256pgs. (English). Softcover.
Publisher: Thames and Hudson, London
“The Book of Silk” follows a story of this remarkable material through 5000 years from all parts of the world. From ancient China where the secret of reeling worm cocoons was first discovered, the narrative leads by the legendary Silk Routes to Byzantium and the Islamic world, to Ottoman Turkey and India – and on to the Renaissance, Baroque and rococo silks of western Christianity. A beautiful collection of illustrations reveals omnipresence in couture and decoration, carpets, embroidery and even painting. Complete with a reference section that includes terms and technical processes, collecting and care, galleries and museums, and a bibliography.
Author: Sujamir, 1954. 48pgs. (English). Softcover. Catalog
Publisher: Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, Jakarta
This modest catalog, first published in the late 1940s and reissued in the early 1950s, serves as an introductory guide to the monumental complex of Borobudur, intended primarily for foreign visitors to Indonesia. Originally composed in 1947, the text provides a concise yet informative account of the etymology of the name “Borobudur” and traces the historical trajectory of the monument within the broader framework of Javanese cultural heritage. The guide offers a systematic description of the architectural structure, including the four circumambulatory galleries, the intricate ornamentation, the narrative relief panels, the circular terraces, and the culminating central stupa. In doing so, it underscores the monument’s dual significance as both a religious mandala and a cultural repository of Buddhist cosmology. The second section of the catalog extends its scope to the Prambanan temple complex, with particular emphasis on the Lara Djonggrang ensemble. Here, the text highlights the architectural grandeur of the Shiva temple, alongside associated shrines dedicated to other deities within the Hindu pantheon. The catalog situates these temples within the broader narrative of Central Javanese sacred architecture, thereby juxtaposing Buddhist and Hindu monumental traditions as complementary expressions of Indonesia’s syncretic religious and cultural history.
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