‘KEDUNGWUNI 104/208’ Batik Exhibition

Masa Masa and Pithecanthropus present ‘Kedungwuni 104/208: Tracing the Continuous Line of a Three-Generation Batik House,’ an exhibition exploring the enduring legacy of Oey Soe Tjoen, one of Indonesia’s most celebrated batik houses.

Founded in Kedungwuni, Pekalongan, in 1925, Oey Soe Tjoen emerged from the culturally rich environment of Java’s northern coast, where Javanese, Chinese, European and Arab influences intersected through centuries of trade and migration. Over three generations, the house has become renowned for its mastery of batik pesisiran (coastal Peranakan batik), distinguished by its technical refinement and artistic complexity. The exhibition traces this century-long journey through works spanning multiple generations of makers. Rather than presenting batik solely as a heritage artefact, it highlights batik as a living practice, one that preserves knowledge, records histories and continually adapts to changing cultural contexts.

At its heart is the enduring commitment to batik tulis, the painstaking hand-drawn wax-resist technique. While industrial production transformed textile manufacturing throughout the twentieth century, Oey Soe Tjoen remained dedicated to craftsmanship, with each hand-drawn line reflecting time, skill and human presence. The exhibition also explores how tradition evolves through innovation. Alongside works by Oey Soe Tjoen, four Balinese artists – Gusti Kade, Ni Wayan Penawati, I Gede Sukarya and Sarita Ibnoe – present contemporary interpretations inspired by the batik house’s legacy.

Kedungwuni 104/208, which takes places from 11 July to 30 August 2026, invites audiences to consider batik as both historical document and contemporary artistic expression.

Masa Masa
Jl. Subak Telaga I No.9, Ketewel
@masamasabali