top of page
MYSTIC - ESOTERIC
THE PROTECTOR textile
Geringsing are important ritual cloths for the ancient Bali Aga society of Tenganan Pegeringsingan, a mountain village in East Bali. They are believed to shield the village from supernatural enemies and ‘impurities’, and protect individuals during rites of passage.
The cloth patterns are regarded as creations of a divine designer, the god Indra. Patterning is produced by a complex method of tie-dying both warp and weft thread systems. The final design appears when the weave is complete.
The geringsing cloth displayed here on screen, with its radiating star motifs on an earthen red ground, is esteemed for its aesthetic and magical power. There are scorpions housed within the large mandala shapes.
Geringsing lubèng – ceremonial cloth, double ikat (loosely woven cotton),
Tenganan Pegeringsingan, East Bali
Kindly lent by Kadar and Anton Lucas
THE PROTECTOR soundtrack
Sekar Gadung - A.A. Gd Adhi Krisna Diatmiua, Putu Eman Sabudi Subandi, and I Kadek Dwi Santika
00:00 / 00:00
Gamelan selonding ensembles were originally found only in Bali Aga villages in East Bali. It is believed the instruments were bequeathed by deities and have the power to harmonise the spiritual wellbeing of the village. The music provides a critical accompaniment to ceremonies in which participants wear geringsing cloths, such as exorcistic rites for the ‘Festival of the Swings’.
The instruments’ iron keys are tuned to a 7-tone scale called pelog, associated with Semara, the God of Love. The absence of drums, gongs and flutes in the music indicate it is one of the island’s most ancient and sacred ensembles.
The music here features only three players and is part of a secular repertoire for sharing with outsiders. The lilting, elegant motifs are abstracted from the composition ‘Sekar Gadung’, which refers to a creeper flower.
Balinese gamelan selonding motifs from an excerpt of ‘Gending Sekar Gadung’
Instrumentation: ugal, nyong-nyong ageng and nyong-nyong alit metallophones, pelog
Musicians: A.A. Gd Adhi Krisna Diatmiua, Putu Eman Sabudi Subandi, and I. Kadek Dwi Santika
bottom of page