During our short collaborative stay at Jatiwangi Art Factory we got to see the richness of their clay culture. Formerly a rooftile factory, now worldwide known as a place for residencies working with terracotta.
it’s 7 am in the morning
the sun is still low
the wind still quiet
the footsteps of the workers
going back and forth
back and forth
back and forth
the clay ready to be touched
after centuries of crumbling
eroded rock descending
through mountain landscapes
carried by streams
it was 1905 when dreams
were turned into reality
building a home
from stone, to gravel, to clay
the people of Jatiwangi
found their way
to make rooftiles
clay hardened by heat
8 hours burning
the industry reached its peak
a decade before 1998, crisis
despite the crisis
Jatiwangi Art Factory created
something priceless
a medium of cultural mediation
it was 2005 when clay was
turned into terracotta
pounding pottery
playing clay guitar
blowing ceramic instruments
endless possibilities
if you dare to see
clay with dignity
rooted in a community
rooted in a community
dedication to the land
celebration of the earth
conversations on the forest
innovation
determination
constant creation
as a student and a teacher
connecting past to the present
never forget to treat clay
as a present
a gift from nature
it gives a roof over your head
it brings people together
it allows for expression
it’s a dream turned into passion
as a student and a teacher
connecting past to the present
never forget to treat clay
as a present
19th of February 2023, Majalengka JaF
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