An Indonesian “thank you” is usually followed by a joyous singsong “sama samaaaaa” – you’re welcome. Pronounced as though the words themselves are upturned, this lyrical, celebratory signoff punctuates almost every exchange. Indonesia is a place where words smile, where people smile with their entire being, and where we at Artemano can’t help but beam. Our search for inspiration and for new product is fueled as much by wanderlust as it is by lumberlust. And this mystic land of active volcanoes does not disappoint. Wood worthy of a second life abounds all over this archipelago of over 17 000 islands. From rattan furniture in Cerebon, to recycled teak and boat wood from Yogyakarta, railway wood in Solo and suar wood from Semarang, there is enormous design potential in Indonesia, one of the world’s most populated nations.
As arboreous as it is populous, Indonesia is the place to explore design trends and raw material. The 12,878 km journey to Indonesia has become routine for us. Each visit is a creative mission to locate exotic timber, recycled wood, sustainable design, and contemporary furniture. Technique and passion course from the hands that construct each piece through to the grain itself. Woodworkers’ have a compounded skillset from generations past and are able to dialogue with the wood, to listen to the narrative within the grain.
To take a cross-section of Artemano, as one would a tree, is to find the original story, the rings of a life that brought the company to Indonesia. The journey to Indonesia was not a direct one. India was our first point of contact with the Eastern world. From there we expanded our search parameters to Thailand and eventually in 2009, Indonesia. At this junction, our entire approach to design changed from the idea of taming the wood to the idea of letting the raw material dictate the design. The wood spoke and we listened.
And there is much to listen to in Indonesia. From reclaimed boat wood to the salvaged parts of traditional homes to the millions of kilometres of sleeper wood beams (railway wood), buried for decades. Unearthed as railways are modernized; monsoon rains, sunlight, and time have sculpted the wood, tempered the grain, and infused it with distinctive beauty.
In an Indonesia factory, smiles are more airborne than sawdust. The grain, indentations, crevices, and texture so beloved by us, all come to life when understood within the context of the culture.
Much like Indonesian traffic, there is a rhythm to the chaos that is life in Indonesia. Frangipani perfumes the air and fruit covers almost every tree. Humidity is thick and road rules are thin. Entire families fit comfortably on a single scooter and road rage is non-existent. All too often when the comforts of R.E.M should be in full swing, a mosque’s speakers announce the call to prayer. And where once a rustling in the room would have caused a scare, it now barely warrants the reaction as, “it’s probably just a gecko.” The Indonesian culture is layered and fascinating and would take a lifetime to fully explore
We continue to explore Yogyakarta, pronounced Jogjakarta or Jogja for short. A city of creative spirits, bicycle rickshaws call out from the side of the road, and smells and colours and sounds swirl. A short drive from Jogja is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur, an 8th century structure covered in relief panels telling the story of the Buddha’s life. And located nearby is a UNESCO World Heritage site, Prambanan, a 9th century Hindu temple. These impressive structures illustrate just how ancient the artistry is and just how interwoven it is with the faiths that define the way of life.
The majority of the population has very little in terms of material things but spirit and resourcefulness in abundance. From flying a kite to fixing a tire or a shoe, from the preparation of street food to the impressive feats of what one can carry on a scooter, what can be done with very little here is inspiring.
Like a well-earned smile line, the wood grain speaks to a life well-lived. Indonesia, thank you. When tracing fingers over the grain of your wood, one can almost hear the people, the land and the wood itself let out a collective sama sama!
