VCM

11Story

07 May 2009

Enclosing the world

The Batak

Contents
- The history and western discovery of the Batak
- Social and political life
- Religion and rituals
            * The beliefs
            * Tondi and begu
- The objects of the priest: the datu items
- The Death
- Synopsis of the exhibition
            * The Workd of the Dead
            * Singa
            * Musical instruments
            * The Toba House
          * Enclosing the world
            * Weapons and associated objects
            * The datu items
            * The protection
- Bibliography

Enclosing the world

Organized according a tripartite composition, batak textiles testify some major themes concerns of social life, also based on the same tripartite division. Hearth are composed of three stones, three colors symbolize the number of patrilinear clans required for the success of a wedding, thus referring to social reproduction. Cloth participate to a system of asymmetrical matrimonial alliances: there are “wives-givers”, wives-recievers” but wives-givers must find their own spouses in groups other than their “wives-recievers”. Ritual textiles forms female valuables or ulos, which are exchanged against valuable considered as male, or piso, which include knives and jewels.
Wrapping the newlyweds in a ulos ragidup is to wish for the union of the couple’s souls. This symbolism male/female impregnates the act of weaving; warp threads are associated with the female domain, while weft threads form the male elements. The cloth thus forms a successful fusion.
Some of the cloths are transmitted form mother to daughter? Cloth unites generations. They establish relationships between clans.